Maple Grove Man Gets 17 Years For Shooting Girlfriend In Face

MAPLE GROVE, MN — A Maple Grove man was sentenced to 17 years in prison for shooting his girlfriend in the face, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Monday. Mitchell John Antil, 53, pleaded guilty to one count of assault in the first degree for shooting his girlfriend twice and causing permanent injuries.

On Friday, Hennepin Court District Judge Gina Brandt sentenced Antil to 206 months in prison, which was an upward sentencing departure due to the particular cruelty of the crime. According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 16, 2016, neighbors called 911 and reported hearing three to four gunshots from a house in the 9100 block of Comstock Lane.

One of the neighbors saw a woman emerge from the house and cross the lawn. The victim, who was bleeding from the head, said “Mitch shot me.”

Then she slumped to the ground. Due to the nature of the call, the police dragged her to a safe spot, according to authorities. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Minnesota Patch, click here to find your local Minnesota Patch. Also, follow us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The report states that there was another 911 call, this time from inside the house. The caller identified himself as Mitch and claimed to have shot the victim in the heart and the head. Police formed a perimeter around the house and saw Antil standing in the patio window holding a shot gun, according to a news release.

He agreed to come out unarmed and following police commands, he was apprehended. When investigators interviewed him, he said he knew what he was doing and wanted to kill his girlfriend.

In court, the victim said she has undergone eight surgeries so far and has suffered great mental and physical distress. Judge Brandt told Antil that this was not an impulsive act.

There was a high probability that the victim could have died, according to authorities. Judge Brandt said to Antil, “You offered to take care of the victim and not pay restitution, but you don’t get to decide. This is time for her to heal and have peace of mind that you are not a safety risk. She deserves justice.”

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