Shed therapy

[hirshey]

Well, I came to Chelan hoping to hit the hills early this morning looking for sheds, and awoke to some terrible news. One of my friends was killed last night in a senseless act of terrible proportions. After visiting his mother and friends, I found no better place than the hills to be alone with my thoughts. Its almost as if he was there with me today... as I sat crying over his departure, I looked 50 feet down the hill and found a matched set laying on top of each other.. not big by any means but a nice gesture for the situation. I didn't really hike that hard but ended up with my matched set 2's and a medium sized 2 point. Thanks, Antlerking for leaving at least the small ones for me.. I needed them today.

[hirshey]

I will post some photos later.. headed to support fellow friends.

[Elkslayer]

Sorry to hear of your loss Hirshey, my prayers are with you and your friends family. I agree that at times when you are troubled or depressed it is nice to just get out in gods country and reflect on life. I provides a great opportunity to just clear you mind and put all of lifes troubles and worries behind you.

[boonerboy]

It does help to get out in the woods doesn't it? I just lost a friend in a car accident last sat. and assigned myself to two days of shed therapy....thoughts and prayers to the fam and friends.

[huntergreg]

Sorry for the loss.

[blacktail luv]

There sure is something therapeutic about a quiet walk in the woods.  Its were I go when life becomes stressful or something is weighing on me.  Sorry to hear about your friend.

[BENCHLEG]

all i can say is that sucks. i hope better days are in your future.

[fishermanjoe]

you know what, in troubled times the best thing to do is be alone in the woods.........

[Alan K]

Sorry to hear that.  Glad you were able to pick some up. 

[teanawayslayer]

sorry for your loss.  Those horns will be a good keep sake.

[hirshey]

His funeral is this next weekend... I'm creating a flower arrangement incorporating those sheds. Maybe I will post some photos when the craziness subsides a little.

His name was Paul... he's a Chelan native. He was shot last night over a non-sensical quarrel related to an ipod. Please keep his family and friends in your thoughts.

[WAmuleyHunter]

sorry for your loss Kari.

Here is the story.
MANSON — An argument over an Xbox and an iPod escalated into a fatal shooting at a Manson residence early Friday morning, according to documents filed in Chelan County Superior Court.

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Chelan County sheriff identifies shooting victim

Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett identified the dead man as Paul M. Raney, 22, of Chelan. Burnett said Raney was shot multiple times in the chest with a handgun. He said he does not know who owned the gun.

Arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder is Steven M. Swinford, 20, of Chelan. On Friday, Superior Court Judge Lesley Allan set his bail at $1 million during a preliminary appearance. Swinford was in the Chelan County Regional Justice Center as of Saturday morning.

According to a deputy’s report, a witness to the shooting told Lt. Jerry Moore that “Mr. Swinford was playing Xbox and Mr. Raney wanted to listen to his iPod. Mr. Raney went outside and got his iPod, came back in and plugged it in. Mr. Swinford unplugged the iPod and Mr. Raney plugged it back in. Then Mr. Swinford shot Mr. Raney.”

Swinford called the RiverCom dispatch center at 12:54 a.m. Friday and told a dispatcher there was an altercation and he had shot his friend, according to the report by Deputy Dominic Mutch.

When Swinford called RiverCom, he said that “he had been drinking and his friend was more sober and could help more,” the report states. Swinford then passed the phone to that friend, who told the dispatcher Raney was dead. The friend told Moore about the iPod argument.

When a deputy arrived, he found Swinford, the man who talked to the dispatcher and a fourth man in the house in the 800 block of Wapato Way, the report states. The deputy said he saw a black shotgun leaning against a wall just inside the door to the residence. He also saw a handgun sitting on a table.

Burnett said the handgun was used in the shooting. There was no indication that the shotgun had been fired, he said. Medics determined that Raney, who was on his back inside the house, was dead.

Swinford and Raney have apparently known each other since at least 2005. Both were listed as Chelan High School football players that year in a Wenatchee World story about a game between Chelan and Manson. Paul Raney is also listed as Swinford’s friend on Facebook.

Raney’s mother is Paula Raney of the Chelan area. A family friend, Lynette Blake, said Paul Raney had been working this winter at Echo Valley Ski Area, where he had been teaching children how to snowboard and ski. “He was a great skier,” Blake said in a phone conversation Friday afternoon.

Dee Riggs: 664-7147

deeriggs@wenatcheeworld.com