Grandfather charged in accidental shooting - KXLT - Fox 47 Rochester MN News, Weather and Sports

ROCHESTER, Minn. (FOX 47) -- The Rochester pastor who accidentally shot his granddaughter last month has been charged with a felony.

According to the criminal complaint filed Thursday, 61-year-old Stanley Wilkinson is facing one count of intentional discharge of a firearm that endangers safety. Wilkinson will make his first appearance in Olmsted County District Court on Feb. 25.

The charge stems from an incident on Dec. 10 when investigators said Wilkinson thought he heard someone breaking into his home on East River Road Northeast.

According to the criminal complaint, he fired two shots and one of them hit his 16-year-old granddaughter. Wilkinson told police he thought the teen was not breathing so he started rescue breathing.

The criminal complaint said Wilkinson's wife called 911. Police found a 9 mm Ruger semi-automatic handgun at the scene, according to the criminal complaint.

The 16-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to the left side of her neck, which damaged the carotid artery on the left side, according to the criminal complaint. The bullet struck two vertebrae in her neck causing them to fracture. The bullet traveled downward and struck a rib, fracturing it and causing injury to the upper lobe of her right lung.

In December, Rochester police reported the 16-year-old had surgery and that her condition was improving.

Wilkinson is pastor at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Rochester.