A 45-year-old man from Grapevine, Texas, died after accidentally shooting himself while taking a firearm out of a vehicle, authorities said.
In a post on X, Texas Game Wardens said officers in northeast Texas responded shortly after midnight on Saturday, Nov. 15, to “a hunting accident that claimed the life of a 45-year-old hunter from Grapevine.”
In a statement released Wednesday, Nov. 19, Texas Game Wardens identified the victim as Jose Ramirez. Officials said Ramirez “was removing a firearm from a vehicle when it accidentally discharged, striking him.”
“Life-saving measures were performed, but unfortunately Mr. Ramirez died of his injuries,” the agency said.
Texas Game Wardens added in their X post that they wish “a tragedy like this could have been avoided.”
“We encourage every hunter to take safety seriously,” the department wrote. “Always handle all firearms as if they are loaded, keep muzzles pointed in a safe direction and take time to unload your firearm before placing or removing it from a vehicle.”
The agency also extended its condolences to Ramirez’s family and friends.
Ramirez’s son, Jose, has launched a GoFundMe fundraiser to support the family and wrote that they are “heartbroken” over his father’s death.
“My dad meant the world to me,” he shared in the fundraiser description. “He taught me the most important lessons in life — to never give up, to work hard for what you want, and to always do what makes you happy, no matter how small it may seem. He believed that true success comes from loving what you do and living with a happy heart.”
Jose added that his father was a “pillar” of their home and that “at the center of his joy was his granddaughter — my niece — who is about to turn one.”
“She was his greatest blessing and the light of his life,” he wrote.
