FATAL SHOOTING: Man says he mistook girlfriend for deer

Prescription meds part of probe

Sara Ganim

PHILIPSBURG — Police have named Troy Ray Tierney, of Port Matilda, as the man who fatally shot his 21-year-old girlfriend while hunting at night on Oct. 24, and said they are looking into both game law violations and criminal homicide charges as part of the investigation.

CDT/Nabil K. Mark

The road maked as "Ridge Trail" that leads to the spot of the hunting accident where Racheal Lynn Perryman was shot in Moshannon State Forest in Union Township October 29, 2009. CDT/Nabil K. Mark

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A search warrant for Tierney’s medical records filed Wednesday identifies him as Racheal Lynn Perryman’s 25-year-old boyfriend. Previous documents filed by police did not name Tierney, but said he told police he mistook Perryman for a deer and accidentally shot her while they were using spotlights to hunt around 8:30 p.m.

Tierney called police shortly after the shooting, and arriving officers say he was staggering and appeared “lethargic” and “extremely relaxed” when they arrived at the scene.

“In my 18 years as a state police trooper, I have received training, and on-the-job experience, in recognizing the effects that alcohol and drugs have on the human body,” Philipsburg state police Trooper Timothy Stevens wrote in the search warrant.

“The observations of Tierney on the evening on 10/24-10/25, and his admissions of taking prescription medications lead this officer to believe that he many have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol to some degree,” he wrote.

In deciding what charges may be appropriate, investigators wrote, “A suspect’s state of mind is relevant in a potential prosecution for these offenses.”

Tierney told police he had taken two anti-depressant medications the day of the shooting and previous search warrants show police found 14 CVS Pharmacy prescriptions in the car Tierney and Perryman drove to the scene. They had been hunting since about 5 p.m., according to Tierney’s account, in a remote area off state Route 504 on a grassy road called Ridge Trail.

The area is a popular hunting spot near the border of Union and Rush townships in Moshannon State Forest. Tierney was committed to Mount Nittany Medical Center, police say, because he threatened to kill himself during an interview with police the day after the shooting.

“He said that at this point there was no reason for living,” Stevens wrote in the search warrant. “He also stated that he wanted to go somewhere to seek help with what had occurred.”

Cpl. Joe Cigich said state police are “still working on following up any investigative leads we have,” and said there is nothing new to release.

Tierney’s court appointed public defender, Deb Lux, couldn’t be reached for comment Thursday.

Sara Ganim can be reached at 231-4616.