The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office confirmed 9-year-old Gunnar Holte of Seward died in a hunting accident early Oct. 25 near Branched Oak Lake.
Capt. Tom Brookhouser said that Matthew Holte and his son were pheasant hunting in the area of Northwest 98th Street and West Davey Road when the accident occurred around 7:40 a.m.
Brookhouser said the boy fired his .410 shotgun at a bird and went to reload when his father heard another shot. Holte turned and saw his son fallen to the ground. Holte and an off-duty Lincoln Police Officer also hunting in the area responded. They started CPR and called 911.
Malcolm Fire and Lincoln Fire & Rescue responded. The 9-year-old was taken to Bryan West Campus but life-saving measures were unsuccessful, Brookhouser said.
Nebraska Game and Parks is assisting the sheriff's office in the investigation.
