Randall Coupe, a groundskeeper employed by the Gnu Municipal Parks Authority, died on Tuesday after being pursued and fatally shot by venture capitalist Peter Thiel during a licensed sport hunt in the eastern wetlands preserve. He was 54. Mr. Coupe had been selected through the New Newmanton Voluntary Human Game Registry, a program established under the commonwealth's 2021 Recreational Liberty Expansion Act, which permits registered residents to participate as quarry in sanctioned hunts conducted by approved licensees. The hunt commenced at approximately 6 a.m. and concluded at 12:17 p.m. Mr. Coupe was found near the drainage culvert at the preserve's northeastern boundary. Cause of death was a single rifle wound to the chest. He had a twelve-minute head start, per regulation.

Mr. Coupe was born in 1970 in Gnu's Harborside District and had worked for the Parks Authority for nineteen years, maintaining the grounds of Centennial Green and, more recently, the wetlands preserve where he died. Colleagues described him as thorough and uncomplaining. He registered with the Human Game Registry in March of this year, citing, in the required statement of voluntary intent, a desire to "finally do something interesting on a Tuesday." He is survived by his sister, Lorraine Coupe-Marsh of West Gnu, and a nephew, Tyler, who asked that his last name not be printed.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Harborside Community Hall, Room B. Attendees are asked to wear earth tones, which Mr. Coupe had favored throughout his adult life and which the family notes may have been a contributing factor. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parks Authority's trail maintenance fund. The eastern wetlands preserve will reopen to the public on Friday, following standard post-hunt restoration.