On July 10, 2021 at approximately 2:43 PM, the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office responded to an accidental firearm discharge on the 36000 block of County Road 171 in Melrose Township.
Deputies spoke with several witnesses who were at a family gathering where several people were partaking in clay pigeon shooting. A juvenile had finished shooting and was unloading a 20-gauge Remington pump-style shotgun when the firearm discharged. The barrel of the shotgun was pointed towards the gravel driveway when it went off. The blast of the bird-shot shotgun shell ricocheted towards bystanders who were watching the shooters about 20 to 30 feet away. Several small pellets struck a 4-year-old, a 9-year-old, and 67-year-old.
The adult victim was treated at the Sauk Centre Hospital and released. Both juvenile victims were transported to the St. Cloud Hospital for further treatment. Both juvenile victim’s injuries were non-life threatening.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Sauk Centre Police Department. The incident remains under investigation.
