Mercer County man faces charges in Halloween costume shooting

ROCHESTER, Pa. (AP) — Charges have been filed against a Mercer County man who shot what he thought was a skunk but was really his 8-year-old cousin in a black-and-white Halloween costume.

Police say 24-year-old Thomas Edward Grant of Jackson Center was charged Thursday with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and simple assault.

The girl was hit in the shoulder, arm, back and neck. She remained in critical condition from the shooting in rural Rochester.

Police say the girl was playing hide-and-seek behind the Grant family's home Saturday night when she was shot once with a 12-gauge shotgun. She was wearing a black body costume and a black hat with a white feather.

Grant has a preliminary hearing Nov. 1. It wasn't clear whether he had an attorney.