An American woman was shot dead by her neighbor because she mistook it for a deer.

Rosemary Billquist (right) living in Sherman town, western New York state, USA was shot dead by her neighbor on November 22. Photo: CNN.

Rosemary Billquist, 43, died on November 22 after neighbor Thomas B. Jadlowski shot her with a gun after mistaking her for a deer, CNN quoted local police.

Jadlowski told police that he was more than 180 meters from the victim when he pulled the trigger. After realizing his fatal mistake, Jadlowski immediately called the emergency line, asking for help from medical staff and the police.

Despite being rushed to the hospital, the victim did not survive. Jadlowski, who has no criminal record, is cooperating closely with investigators to clarify the incident.

"He was in shock and disbelief at what had happened," said Josh Ostrander, sheriff of Chautauqua County, New York.

Ostrander said it was possible that Billquist had been on her neighbor's property when she was shot, and that the shooting took place after dusk. Under New York state law, deer hunting is prohibited after sunset, making Jadlowski's shooting illegal.

According to VNE