Minnesota Man Who Shot 11-Year-old Girl Faces Federal Charge

Source: News-Talk 1340 KROC AM & 96.9 FM
Author: Andy Brownell

Minneapolis, MN (KROC-AM News) - An incident described by Minneapolis Police officials as "absolutely reckless celebratory behavior." has resulted in a federal charge against a Twin Cities man.

The US Attorney for Minnesota says 44-year-old James William Turner of Fridley has been charged with illegal possession of ammunition as a convicted felon. He is accused of firing multiple shots from an AR-style rifle just after midnight on New Year's Day. One of the bullets entered a North Minneapolis home and struck an 11-year-old girl in the face.

According to court documents, the girl told investigators she was sitting in her second-story bedroom when she heard gunshots outside the residence around midnight. She stated that she went to her window to look out when a bullet came through the window and struck her face.

The federal charges say investigators obtained a Snapchat video of Turner that was recorded just before the shooting. It shows him outside, near the victim's home, arguing with another person before the camera turned and showed the rifle lying across the driver seat of the vehicle. A neighbor also provided investigators with a doorbell camera video showing Turner firing multiple rounds in the direction of the girl's bedroom window. The complaint also says officers found eight live cartridges and 24 spent shell casings on the boulevard, sidewalk, and yard at the site of the shooting.