Clinton Robert Haas shot, killed in hunting accident near Indiantown Road north of Jupiter

JUPITER, Fla. - A man is dead as a result of a hunting accident on private land just north of Jupiter in Martin County, according to Robert Dubee, spokesman for Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.

It happened around 6:30 p.m. in the Bridgewater Development, near West Indiantown Road and Island Way Thursday evening.

Friday The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission identified the victim as Clinton Robert Haas, 34, of Loxahatchee.

FWC said Haas was apparently shot by his friend Ernie Small Jr., 36, of West Palm Beach. Officials say Small thought he was shooting a hog. Haas died on the scene.

“At this point in our investigation, this appears to be a terrible hunting accident,” said Captain John Suggs, law enforcement supervisor for the FWC. “As with all hunting incidents, we will conduct a thorough investigation to find out how and why this hunting trip ended so tragically," said Suggs in a written statement.

Wildlife officials say they will investigate several factors including the weather, the firearms involved and the hunters' experience.

The FWC said the Martin County Sheriff’s Office initially responded to the shooting but turned the case over to the FWC, because it appears to be a hunting accident.