A man who shot and killed a deer in Elwood Cemetery Aug. 3 says he didn’t know the deer was tame and wanted the meat to save money to feed his family.
Phoenix M. Vankirk, 19, has been cited by the Missouri Department of Conservation for taking a deer out of season, a code violation that is punishable by a fine up to $1000 and a year in jail, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker announced today.
“According to a probable cause statement, Vankirk admitted to a Missouri conservation agent that he shot the deer on the evening of Aug. 3, 2013 after seeing the deer standing in the cemetery grass. He had no idea that the deer was tame and he only shot it to feed his family. He said he wanted to tell the community he was extremely sorry,” the prosecutor’s office said in a press release.
Vankirk was issued the ticket on Thursday.
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