PA: Teenager shot while hunting

January 7, 2010

Teenager shot while deer hunting

Cherry Ridge - Pennsylvania Game Commission is investigating a shooting incident which left a 17 year old boy from Cherry Ridge with a spinal injury, Wednesday.

The teenager, Shane Rickard, was shot with a .44 caliber revolver, said Game Commission spokesman Tim Conway.

The boy is a resident of Melody Road, and allegedly was shot in the back while he and some relatives were hunting for deer, Conway said. The person who allegedly fired the shot is 20 year Wade Rickard also of Melody Road, a cousin to the victim, said Conway.

Conway said that the alleged shooter was cooperative and did what he could to assist the victim. No charges have been filed at this point as it is still under investigation.

Muzzle loading season is underway and runs through Saturday. Conway said that the hunting party was engaging in a deer drive, where a group of the hunters entice game to head to an area where other hunters may have a better chance at taking one. The party was in a wooded area at the time, when the 17 year old was shot.

The call for help came at 4:26 p.m. Pa. State Police responded. Conway stated that the victim was shot in the back, and the bullet exited the chest. He was taken by life-flight helicopter to Community Medical Center (CMC) in Scranton, and was expected to be transferred to Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia.

Conway said that the Pa. State police assisted, and the Game Commission and State Police determined the case appeared to be hunting related and fell under the jurisdiction of the Game Commission. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, charges could still be considered by the District Attorney's Office, said Conway.

He said that use of a revolver is a violation of the Pa. Game Commission's rules for muzzle loading season. Conway said that the victim was not wearing an orange garment, which is recommended but not a requirement of muzzle loading season.

Shane is a junior at Honesdale High School.

Conway said that there have been four shooting incidents in the northeast Pennsylvania region of the Pa. Game Commission during the past year. All them resulted in minor injuries.

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