Woman, 45, shot dead by a hunter who mistook her for a wild animal in Maramureș

What happened

A 45-year-old woman was shot dead on Wednesday evening, 28 October, in Poienile de Sub Munte, a village in Maramureș county in northern Romania. Police from the Leordina rural police section were alerted around 21:00. At the scene they found her with a gunshot wound to the neck, and her death was confirmed there.

The suspect

Initial checks identified a 35-year-old man suspected of firing a hunting rifle in the woman's direction. According to authorities, he mistook her for a wild animal. He is in police custody while officers continue checks to establish the full circumstances of the shooting.

Local outlets Adevarul and Stirile ProTV reported, based on first information, that the man had been poaching and mistook the woman for a wild boar. Those details come from the media reports and were not confirmed in the police statements the articles cite.

Investigation

A complex research team travelled to the scene, and investigative activities are ongoing. Police said the aim is to establish the exact facts and the legal measures that must be taken. Officers are also examining the circumstances in which the hunting rifle was used.