Berks County officer charged for shooting fellow hunter

A police officer from Berks County, Pennsylvania, is facing charges for accidentally shooting a fellow hunter during a goose hunt last November. David Qawasmy, 30, has been charged with misdemeanor counts of shooting and causing injury to a human, as well as reckless endangerment. Witnesses, including the victim, claim that Qawasmy had been drinking alcohol before the shooting. The incident took place on November 23, when Qawasmy reportedly shot the victim in the head while trying to hit a goose. The victim required emergency surgery and was in critical condition for several days. Qawasmy is set to appear for a formal arraignment on March 26. He was released on bail after posting a zero dollar bond. The case was discussed recently in a meeting of the Pennsylvania House Game & Fisheries Committee, where there were questions about whether Qawasmy could face a lifetime ban on hunting. The hunting incident came after Pennsylvania recorded its lowest number of hunting-related shooting incidents in over a century in 2023. The state Game Commission reported just 13 incidents last year, one of which was fatal. Qawasmy began his job as a patrol officer in Exeter Township in January 2023. It remains unclear if he is still actively working, as he is reportedly on leave from the department.