ELIZABETHTOWN — Investigation into the hunting death of a young father in Keene is continuing.

On Monday, New York State Police Troop B Bureau of Criminal Investigation Capt. Robert LaFountain said autopsy results concluded Leo J. Hickey, 35, died of a gunshot wound to the head.

A member of Hickey’s hunting party, Michael M. Smith, 43, of Lake Placid, fired the fatal shot, according to police reports.

Smith was arrested after the incident occurred on an outstanding arrest warrant from New Hampshire.

Capt. Joe DiGregorio from the Strafford County Sheriff’s Department in Dover, N.H., said the warrant was issued after Smith failed to make a court appearance there last month.

“Mr. Smith failed to appear in Strafford County Superior Court on Oct. 6 for drug-related charges; Superior Court issued the warrant,” DiGregorio relayed in a phone interview Monday.

“I’m not sure where he was living. He did have an address from Barrington, N.H., on that document.”

DiGregorio did not know if Smith would be extradited to face charges in New Hampshire.

“I would imagine that the state of New York would like their crack at him first. Once he’s done with the state of New York, then he would come to New Hampshire. That’s traditionally how it’s done.”

According to an officer at the Public Safety Complex, Smith remains in Essex County Jail, pending further investigation.

He was hunting with a group of at least five men, including stepbrother Mark Smith and Hickey.

The party, equipped with walkie-talkies, was driving deer in a recently logged, lightly wooded area off the Lacy Road near the junction of Bartlett Road.

Hickey, who grew up in Keene, died about 9:45 a.m. Saturday despite rescue attempts.

Essex County Coroner Paul Connery marked manner of death as “pending” on the death certificate.

LaFountain said BCI is conducting a thorough investigation of the incident, and once it has concluded, a determination will be made on how to proceed.