A man fired a gun at a bear near a campsite in Shasta County but the bullet ricocheted and struck a 17-year-old boy in the chest.

The boy was driven to Montgomery Creek after the accidental shooting Friday and flown to Mercy Medical Center by a California Highway Patrol helicopter. The Shasta County Sheriff's Office said the teen was in stable condition Saturday.

A woman called 911 just before 7 p.m. Friday saying the boy was accidentally shot in the chest and he was being taken to the intersection of Highway 299 and Big Bend Road in Montgomery Creek.

Deputies met the injured teen at the intersection along with four witnesses who said an adult friend shot at a bear near their campsite. The bullet didn't hit the bear but apparently hit a rock or rock wall and ricocheted, striking the teen.

Deputies said they performed an "extensive investigation" and determined the injury was an accident.