MINNEAPOLIS, MN – An 11-year-old girl is recovering after being shot in the face on New Year’s Day, and authorities have charged a Fridley man with federal crimes related to the incident. James William Turner, 44, is accused of recklessly firing an AR-style rifle in a residential neighborhood, the bullet piercing a second-story window and striking the child.
The Minneapolis Police Department responded to reports of gunfire shortly after midnight on January 1st. The victim, identified only as an 11-year-old girl, told investigators she was sitting in her bedroom when she heard shots ring out. She approached the window to see what was happening when a round came crashing through the glass, hitting her in the face. The girl was immediately taken to a local hospital for treatment; her current condition is unknown.
Investigators quickly zeroed in on Turner, obtaining a Snapchat video filmed just before the shooting. The two-minute clip shows Turner arguing with an unidentified person near the victim’s home, and crucially, displays an AR-style rifle resting on the driver’s seat of his vehicle. A neighbor’s doorbell camera captured footage of Turner firing multiple rounds in the direction of the girl’s bedroom window, corroborating the victim’s account.
A search of the area turned up a disturbing amount of evidence: eight live cartridges and 24 spent casings scattered across the boulevard, sidewalk, and yard. This, coupled with the video evidence, paints a picture of a deliberate and dangerous act. Turner is already a convicted felon, making possession of ammunition a federal offense.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, Turner has been charged with one count of possession of ammunition as a felon. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on Tuesday before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster. If convicted, Turner faces a significant prison sentence. The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Minneapolis Police Department, with assistance from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristian C.S. Weir is prosecuting the case. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as they become available. This incident serves as yet another stark reminder of the gun violence plaguing American cities and the consequences of illegally possessing firearms.
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