Stranglng could give you arthritis, why damage those precious focusing mechanisms.

Try - got hit be a metoerite
fell into a blackhole
discovered timetravel & went to live in the year 2080.
abducted by aliens
these are all plausible explanations to be put forward to the authorities
Forgot one - (my favourite) you vaporised him with your laser pointer, which you accidentally put on while checking the collimation on your scope