PN: 26-Year-Old Amish Dad Of 2 Shot Dead By Fellow Hunter During Deer Drive In PA: Coroner (UPDATE)

02/19/2026

The hunter who fired the shot that killed an Amish father of two during a Pennsylvania deer drive has now been charged, according to court documents filed Wednesday, Feb. 18.

Anthony J. Peachey 2nd, 20, of McAlisterville, is charged with Misdemeanor Shoot At/Kill/Injure Human Hunting in connection with the Dec. 2, death of 26-year-old Floyd Wengerd, according to the criminal complaint and court docket.

Wengerd, an Amish father of two — including a 1-month-old infant daughter — was taking part in a 24-person hunting group on a snowy mountain off Vincent Tram Road in Milford Township around 8:20 a.m., the Pennsylvania Game Commission said.

He was part of the team driving deer toward “standers” when a buck suddenly jumped up and ran back through the line. Two hunters fired at the deer, and one of the rounds struck Wengerd in the right hip as he stood in the direct line of fire. Investigators said he was approximately 127 yards from the shooter.

According to the affidavit, Peachey admitted at the scene, “It was me,” and told a responding state game warden he believed he had shot a branch, claiming one fell when he fired. He also told investigators that it was snowing and visibility was poor.

“I couldn’t even see the guy above me,” Peachey said, according to the complaint.

The charging warden wrote that Peachey “shot at a deer in conditions with poor visibility without knowing the specific location of the other drivers around his position and without knowing what was beyond the deer he was shooting at,” calling those factors evidence of carelessness or negligence.

Investigators could not locate a tree branch that appeared to have been struck by gunfire, as Peachey claimed.

A state game warden arrived shortly before 10:30 a.m. and observed a gunshot wound to Wengerd’s right hip as he was being loaded into an ambulance, according to the complaint.

Wengerd was taken to Geisinger Lewistown Hospital, where he died at 12:14 p.m. The Mifflin County Coroner ruled the cause of death hypovolemic shock due to a penetrating gunshot wound to the right hip. The manner of death was ruled accidental.

Community members previously shared that Wengerd had moved from central Pennsylvania to Mercer County last year and had returned home to hunt with family from the Guys Mills Amish community. He worked at Shade Mt. Granite and was remembered as a “very nice young man.”

First responders described a difficult rescue, saying Wengerd was nearly 1.5 miles into rugged, snow-covered terrain when he was shot. Multiple fire companies, EMS, state police, and game wardens worked for hours to reach him. He was alive when placed into the ambulance, according to those assisting.

Deer firearm season only opened the weekend before this tragic incident, Saturday, Nov. 29.

Court records show Peachey’s case remains active and he is awaiting a preliminary hearing.