Man sentenced for fatally shooting friend

Published 6:50 pm Thursday, November 29, 2018

ST. PAUL — A man who fatally shot his friend in St. Paul has been sentenced to jail time and probation.

A Ramsey County judge agreed to terms of a plea deal Wednesday and gave Joel Paulson one year in jail and 10 years of probation. Twenty-five-year-old Justin Finklea was accidentally shot by Paulson while the two were drinking at a St. Paul duplex a year ago.

The 32-year-old Paulson told authorities he didn’t think a handgun was loaded when he pointed it jokingly at Finklea and pulled the trigger. Finklea was the father of two sons, ages 6 and 8.

Email newsletter signup

According to a press release, family members of both men wiped away tears during the sentencing hearing.