The passing of Dick Cheney was confirmed on Tuesday, November 4. In the wake of his death, the hunting accident involving the former vice president has come back into the spotlight.
Revisiting the Dick Cheney Hunting Accident of 2006
In February 2006, Dick Cheney went quail hunting in South Texas. During the outing, he accidentally shot Harry Whittington, a 78-year-old lawyer, with his 28-gauge Perazzi shotgun.
The incident occurred while Whittington was retrieving a bird, and when another covey took flight, Cheney fired, hitting the attorney in the face, neck, and torso.
At the time of the accident, Cheney was serving as the vice president of the United States under President George W. Bush. He held the position from 2001 to 2009 as the 46th vice president.
Due to his high-profile role, Cheney faced significant public backlash following the incident. The criticism stemmed not only from the shooting itself but also from the delayed reporting of the event. The Corpus Christi Caller-Times published the story nearly 24 hours later.
Harry Whittington’s Response
Harry Whittington, a well-known lawyer from Austin, did not hold Cheney responsible for the incident, referring to it as a ‘misfortune.’ He noted that explaining the situation to those unfamiliar with quail hunting can be challenging.
Whittington accepted his share of the responsibility, stating, ‘We all assume certain risks in whatever we do.’ He characterized the event as an ‘accident’ and even expressed regret to Cheney.
‘My family and I are deeply sorry for all Vice President Cheney and his family had to deal with this week,’ Whittington said. ‘We hope he will continue to come to Texas and seek the relaxation he deserves.’
Doctors later reported that Whittington was in ‘excellent health’ and released him shortly after the incident. He passed away in 2023 at the age of 95.
Cheney Takes Responsibility
Dick Cheney also spoke about the incident during an interview with Fox News, describing it as ‘one of the worst days of my life.’ While Whittington did not place blame on him, Cheney accepted full responsibility for the shooting, stating, ‘It was not Harry’s fault.’
‘You can’t blame anybody else. I’m the guy who pulled the trigger and shot my friend,’ Cheney remarked.
Recalling the moment, Cheney said he rushed to Whittington’s side and found him lying on his back, bleeding. He informed Whittington that he had no idea he was there, but Whittington did not respond.
Following the shooting, Whittington suffered ‘a mild heart attack.’
Cheney Defends His Decision to Delay Reporting
Cheney faced intense scrutiny for the delay in reporting the incident. Critics accused his office of lacking transparency and questioned why the news was only released in a local paper rather than on a national level.
‘I thought that was the right call,’ Cheney defended his decision, adding, ‘I still do.’
Former President George W. Bush supported Cheney’s handling of the situation, stating that he managed it ‘just fine.’
Dick Cheney’s Cause of Death
Dick Cheney passed away over the weekend at the age of 95. His family announced his death on Tuesday, revealing that he succumbed to complications from pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease.
Cheney had a history of heart issues, having survived five heart attacks. Following his passing, former President Bush released a statement honoring Cheney, saying, ‘Dick Cheney was a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing.’
Source: https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/dick-cheney-hunting-accident-resurfaces-why-shooting-victim-was-sorry-former-vp-1752430
