Man accused of shooting at wildfire aircraft claimed he shooting at crows: Charges
Investigators say the plane’s rudder and trim tab were damaged after 37 water-scooping runs, and prosecutors say Pettit could face at least 3 years if convicted.
- On Wednesday, Daniel Christian Pettit, 48, of Portage Township, was charged with second-degree assault and intentional discharge of a firearm for allegedly shooting at a firefighting aircraft on May 15.
- During his 35th pass over Kjostad Lake, the pilot heard a "pop" sound while scooping water to fight a wildfire near Buyck, Minnesota, later discovering damage to the aircraft's rudder.
- After residents reported hearing "bang" sounds, St. Louis County Sheriff's Office deputies identified a potential location and suspected Pettit, who had previously shown annoyance with low-flying aircraft in 2024.
- Claiming he was crow hunting, Pettit told investigators he believed the planes violated Federal Aviation Administration regulations by flying within 40 feet of his roof, stating, "If I accidentally hit him crow hunting, too bad."
- Judge Robert Friday set unconditional bail at $150,000, noting that Pettit faces a presumptive prison term of at least three years if convicted of the assault charge involving a firearm.
21 Articles
21 Articles
Man accused of shooting at firefighting plane says he thought he was shooting at crows
HIBBING, Minn. (KVRR-KFGO) – A man accused of shooting at a plane helping to put out a wildfire near Orr in northeastern Minnesota claims he was crow hunting and was not intentionally shooting at planes. Daniel Pettit, 48, is charged with reckless endangerment, recklessly firing a gun and felony criminal damage to property. A fire-fighting plane returned to the Range Regional Airport in Hibbing last Friday with a bullet hole in its rudder. The S…
Man accused of shooting wildfire plane says he was crow hunting
VIRGINIA — A northern St. Louis County man allegedly told authorities he was crow hunting on Friday evening when a firefighting aircraft was struck with a bullet near his rural home. "If I accidentally hit him crow hunting, too bad,” Daniel Christian Pettit reportedly told investigators. “He endangered my life. I decided to go outside and crow hunt. Did I aim and try and shoot the plane? Nope, no I didn't." Pettit, 48, of Portage Township, was c…
Man accused of shooting at wildfire aircraft claimed he shooting at crows: Charges
A St. Louis County man faces several charges after authorities say he shot at an aircraft that was working to put out wildfires in northern Minnesota, claiming he thought he was shooting at crows.
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