Iowa Teen Fatally Shot in Hunting Accident Identified as Carson Ryan
Washington County, Iowa — A 17-year-old high school athlete has died after being accidentally shot during a weekend hunting trip in rural Iowa. Authorities have identified the victim as Carson Ryan, a resident of Washington, Iowa, whose promising young life was tragically cut short in what officials are calling a hunting accident.
The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, September 27, 2025, in a wooded area near Brighton, where Ryan had joined members of a hunting party for a squirrel hunting outing. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the group had been tracking movement when tragedy struck around 3 p.m.
Investigators say Carson had stood up to reposition himself when his movement was mistakenly identified as that of a squirrel by another member of the hunting party. A single shot was fired, striking Ryan in the back of the head.
Emergency crews rushed Ryan to UI Health Care Medical Center in Iowa City, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Captain Shawn Meier of the DNR’s Law Enforcement Bureau explained that environmental conditions played a role in the deadly error. “You have the sunlight coming in, shadows will start to creep in, you have other types of movement, whether it be wind, animals moving within the area,” Meier said in a statement to local outlet KCRG. He urged hunters to always double-check their targets before pulling the trigger. “It is important that hunters take that time to look through the area and make sure what they’re seeing is the target they’re going to shoot at.”
The DNR, in collaboration with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, is treating the case as an accident. No charges have been filed at this time, and authorities have not released the identities of other members of the hunting party.
Ryan’s death has left his hometown of Washington in shock. Known as a dedicated student-athlete, he had been active in high school sports and was admired by peers, teachers, and coaches for his work ethic and positive spirit. Friends and classmates have begun leaving tributes on social media, remembering him as a kind, hardworking, and fun-loving young man.
The tragedy has also renewed calls for heightened awareness around hunting safety protocols, particularly when young people are involved in outdoor sporting activities. Officials stress that even experienced hunters must remain vigilant and disciplined at all times to prevent such devastating mistakes.
As the investigation continues, the community of Washington is mourning the loss of Carson Ryan, a teenager whose future was filled with potential but ended far too soon in an accident that has left a lasting scar on his family and friends.
