Andrew Todd Brendel, 45, of Palm Coast, Florida, died January 29, 2015, from a gunshot wound sustained while hunting nuisance hogs. He was with a 19-year-old friend, Darnell Hyppolite, who told deputies Brendel tripped while walking through the woods and the .22 caliber rifle discharged, striking Brendel in the abdomen. Rescuers transported Brendel to Halifax Hospital, where he died that evening.

Deputies found Brendel being treated at his mother’s home and recovered the .22 caliber rifle with one spent round in the chamber and eleven live rounds in the magazine behind a couch; Hyppolite’s Winchester 30-30 was recovered from the woods. A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officer assisted the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, and both firearms were submitted to the county Evidence Division. Investigators reported no signs of foul play and treated the death as an accidental shooting.

Brendel had a recent arrest for felony possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana in Volusia County just over two weeks before his death; no other arrests in Volusia or Flagler counties were reported.