While they were squirrel hunting, a “happy-go-lucky” 13-year-old boy from South Carolina was shot and killed by his best friend. In a heartbreaking post, the boy’s mom said, “Heaven gained an angel.”

Officials say that eighth-grader Cameron Connor and his friend were hunting on private land near Santee, which is about 65 miles northwest of Charleston, on Sunday when the terrible thing happened.

In a post on X, the state Department of Natural Resources said that “two friends were squirrel hunting on private land when one shot the other.” They did not say much else about what happened, but they did call it a “hunting accident.”

“This is still being looked into, and we’ll let you know as soon as we can,” the agency said. “Our thoughts are with the boy’s family and friends.”

Mom of Cameron thanked everyone in the community for their support.

As a parent, this is one of the worst tragedies I’ve ever had to deal with. Peggy Wagers Connor from Harleyville wrote on Facebook, “Please hug your kids extra tight and tell them you love them.”

“Please pray for Bryson, Marshall, Kelly, Finnley, and my family as we mourn the death of our sweet Cameron.” She wrote, “Please pray for his best friend and his family.”

“Last night, heaven got an angel.” He affected a lot of people by being there. The mom told USA Today, “Son, I’ll miss you every day, and until we meet again, I love you with all my heart and soul.” The boys were hunting ducks.

For the private school’s baseball team, Cameron pitched, and for the football team, he played tight end. His best friend also played on both teams, she told USA Today.

“He’d rather fish than sleep.” “He made a big difference at his school and in our community,” Wagers Connor told the news source. “He loved telling funny stories about fishing and hunting that could make anyone laugh.”

The family joked, she told the Times and Democrat, that he could put a hook in the water and a fish would get it.

“He moved to the beat of his own drum.” “Always smiling and happy,” the mom told the news source.

“He got along with everyone and loved life.” He had never met anyone new. He loved his family and was friendly and kind. He was just a great kid all around. “He’d do anything for anyone,” she said.

Marshall Connor, the teen’s father from Dorchester, told USA Today that his son always had a good attitude.

He said, “He loved the outside, was friendly, generous, and outgoing.” He also asked people to pray for Cameron’s friend and his family.

“People are also being asked to wrap them up in love,” he said Tuesday.

The parents stressed how important it was to teach their kids how to keep guns safe.

“We made it a point to teach Cam how dangerous a gun can be if not used properly and how important it is to always have the safety on,” his mom told USA Today.

Cameron leaves behind his parents, his brother Bryson, 17, his half-brother Finnley, 5, and his stepmother, Kelly Connor.

Waugh Connor said, “My son was really an angel walking around on earth.” “Now he’s an angel keep an eye on us.”