Granite Falls Ledger

Tuesday, May 23, 2006                                                                                      50 Cents

Tierra Smith, Senior Editor

   

 

Local Boy Accused of Killing Stepfather in Hunting Accident

16-year-old Matthew Moore is accused of killing his stepfather, Bill Hapgood.

Early Saturday morning, Matthew Moore, his stepfather, and four friends set out on a hunting trip to Granite Creek.  It had been a Hapgood family tradition for the father to take his son on a hunting trip as a celebration of his sixteenth birthday.

According to the four friends, Matthew and his stepfather got into a big argument.  Immediately following this incident, the group spotted a trophy sized seven-point buck at the top of the bluff. 

 

  

Afterwards, they split up into three groups in hopes of shooting the enormous animal.

The friends then heard three shots shortly after reaching the top of the bluff.  They immediately went in the direction of the shots.  After an hour of searching, they found Matthew standing in a daze with his eyes frozen in the direction of the large buck.  After snapping out of his hypnotic state, Matthew walked with his friends to go look at the buck.

After viewing the lifeless buck, the group then began to wonder what had happened to Bill.  A few minutes later the group found Bill Hapgood dead and facedown with a bullet wound in the middle of his forehead. Instantly, their eyes darted accusingly in Matthew’s direction.

The police and medical crew arrive on the scene at once.  The events were then accounted from each person at the scene.  Then the police started questioning Matthew.  Matthew admits to holding the gun, but does not remember firing the gun.  Until now, the case was ruled as an accidental death until more evidence can be found.