A Texas family is mourning the death of 45-year-old Jose Ramirez of Grapevine, who state officials say was killed in an accidental shooting during a weekend hunting trip in northeast Texas, as reported by Fox News.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) game wardens responded shortly after midnight on Saturday to what the agency described as a fatal hunting accident.
According to information provided to local outlet KLTV by TPWD, Ramirez was removing a firearm from a vehicle when it discharged, striking him. Attempts at life-saving measures were not successful.
Beloved Texas dad, 45, killed after gun accidentally went off during hunting trip: ‘Pillar of our home’ https://t.co/pxf3uByzTy pic.twitter.com/UV7Zu6qP6X
— New York Post (@nypost) November 20, 2025
Ramirez, a father of three, was identified in a GoFundMe campaign organized by one of his daughters. “My father, Jose Ramirez, passed away unexpectedly, and our family is heartbroken. My dad meant the world to me,” the GoFundMe reads.
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His daughter described him as “the pillar of our home, the provider for our family, and the one who always made sure we were taken care of.”
She said the “light of his life” was his infant granddaughter. “He taught me the most important lessons in life — to never give up, to work hard for what you want, and to always do what makes you happy, no matter how small it may seem,” she wrote.
“He believed that true success comes from loving what you do and living with a happy heart.”
Community tributes also noted Ramirez’s longstanding ties to Grapevine. The Facebook page “Grapevine Edit” wrote that he grew up in the city and worked at numerous local restaurants over the years.
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“Most recently, he worked at Son of a Butcher, Silver Lake Marina’s Rockin’ S Express Bar & Grill, and spent over a decade at Kirby’s Steakhouse,” the post said.
“His family wants the community to know of his passing because they know how many coworkers, customers, and locals cared about him and would want to know.”
TPWD said game wardens are trained to investigate hunting-related incidents but “always wish a tragedy like this could have been avoided.” The agency encouraged hunters to remain vigilant with firearm safety and published reminders on Facebook.
“Always handle all firearms as if they are loaded, keep muzzles pointed in a safe direction, and take time to unload your firearm before placing or removing it from a vehicle,” TPWD wrote while extending condolences to Ramirez’s family.
Texas’ general rifle season for white-tail deer began on Nov. 1 and runs through various dates in January depending on the region.
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This is the kind of accident that comes with ignorance and complacency. Ignorance because a rifle should never be transported with a round in the chamber (or even loaded) and complacency because anyone that has hunted knows what a rifle bullet does to flesh.
Very sad.