In the quiet community of Veneta, Oregon, the evening of June 3, 2026, was shattered by an act of violence that would leave a family fractured and a community seeking answers. On that day, 40-year-old Mark Thomas Tierney lost his life to gun violence. Lane County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a report of a shooting at approximately 9 p.m. in the 87000 block of Huston Road. Upon their arrival, they discovered Mark Thomas Tierney deceased at the scene. The initial investigation swiftly pointed to a suspect within his own family.
Following an investigation at the scene, detectives arrested Mark's father, 63-year-old Martin Grant Tierney, in connection with the fatal shooting. Martin Tierney was taken into custody and subsequently booked into the Lane County Jail. He faced serious charges, including second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. In the immediate aftermath, the sheriff's office assured the public that all individuals involved had been identified and that there was no ongoing threat to the community. The investigation, however, was far from over and was described as active and ongoing.
In a surprising turn of events, the charges against Martin Grant Tierney were dismissed just over a week later, on June 12, 2026. The Lane County District Attorney's Office filed for the dismissal, citing the emergence of "new information" that necessitated "further investigation." This dismissal was "without prejudice," leaving the door open for charges to be refiled in the future. While authorities have not publicly disclosed the nature of this new information, the investigation into Mark Thomas Tierney's death remains an open and active case. No other suspects have been named, and as of now, there have been no convictions or sentencing in the case, leaving the final chapter of this tragic story unwritten.
