Click here to subscribe today or Login.
By JOLYN RESNICK jresnick@leader.net
Friday, January 28, 2000 Page: 3A
KINGSTON TWP. – Peter Perno suffered at least five bullet wounds during an
argument with his wife Wednesday, Police Chief James Balavage said on
Thursday.
Perno’s wife, Mary Perno, 42, was charged in the shooting and is at the
Luzerne County Correctional Facility. Captain Al Ottensman said she is under a
standard suicide watch until she is cleared by psychiatrists.
Police said six shots were fired. They believe at least one bullet from a
.357 Magnum may have exited Perno’s body, then re-entered. Perno was shot once
in the upper abdomen and neck and at least three times in the upper chest and
shoulder area.
Luzerne County District Attorney David Lupas and Balavage said
investigators had not determined if Mary Perno was licensed to carry a
concealed weapon.
Peter Perno, 46, remained in critical condition Thursday at Community
Medical Center in Scranton, a hospital spokeswoman said. Balavage said the man
was talking to police until he was taken into the surgery.
The couple had been living at a house on 29 Circle Drive in Carverton since
May. The house is owned by Peter Perno’s sister, Yolanda Humphrey.
Balavage said police found at the scene only one weapon that had been
fired. Neither he nor Lupas would say if Peter Perno had a weapon or if he had
threatened his wife.
They also said they were not aware of problems between the couple. Mary
Perno told police she had an argument with her husband concerning “the status
of their marriage” and admitted firing the gun, according to arrest papers.
Perno is charged with two counts each of aggravated and simple assault and
one count of recklessly endangering another person. Lupas and Balavage said
the charges could be revised.
“Aggravated assault covers shooting with a deadly weapon,” Lupas said. He
also said attempted murder charges require premeditation.
Call Resnick at 829-7210.