A 14-year-old Utah boy was killed in front of his family when he was hit in the head by a stray bullet fired from a group of nearby target shooters, authorities said.

The young victim, identified by family as Zackary Kempke, was in the back seat of his family’s car — driven by his father — on a dirt road in a desolate region of the Monte Cristo range when he was shot Sunday afternoon, the Deseret News reported.

The boy died instantly as a result of the 3 p.m. shooting, according to local reports. His family was not injured.

Rich County Sheriff Dale Stacey said investigators determined that the bullet came from another family that was target shooting several hundred feet away, the Deseret News reported.

“The individual involved as well as witnesses stated that they did not know there was a road down range and could not see the vehicle as it traveled on the road due to thick brush and trees,” the sheriff’s office said, noting that the fatal incident “appears to have been unintentional.”

The sheriff’s office added: “When the investigation is complete, all information and evidence will be turned over to the Rich County prosecutor for further action or charges.”

At this time, no charges have been filed, authorities said.

“He didn’t even know what happened, he was gone that fast,” said the boy’s devastated uncle, Cory Hopkins, according to KSL-TV.

Hopkins said Zackary and his family were in the remote area to take family photos to send to the boy’s older brother, who is away serving as a Mormon missionary.

In remembering his nephew, Hopkins said: “He was like the center of attention. He was a comic, he liked to make people laugh … But he had a serious side. He was very spiritual. … He was a good kid. He was family-oriented.”

Hopkins told the Deseret News that Zackary suffered from Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease.

“[W]e all just can’t believe that he’s not going to be around,” the uncle said.