Man charged in shooting of N.W.T. elder

An 18-year-old man faces a number of chargesin connectionwithan armed invasion Monday that left two Fort Good Hope, N.W.T., elders injured, with one needing surgery after being shot in the face.

Local RCMP arrested AlexisTuro shortly after the incident, which took place Monday morning in the hamlet, located about 800 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife.

Thomas Manuel Sr. and Denise Manuel, both in their 70s, were injured after a man broke into their house around 8:45 a.m. MT. The male elder was shot in the face with a shotgun, while the woman injured herself while trying to escape through a window.

Arnold Manuel, the couple's grandson, told CBC News on Tuesday that his grandmother is recovering in the Stanton Territorial Hospital in Yellowknife, while his grandfather awaits surgery in Edmonton.

"Buckshot went close to his heart and brain, and [he] might lose his eye. But they're not sure right now until they get in his eye and start operating on it," he said.

"Other side of his eye, the buckshot broke his cheekbone. So they got to wire that back together and his jaw, too."

The junior Manuel said hospital staff in Yellowknife will determine later Tuesday if they need to operate on Denise Manuel's back and arm.

Three other grandchildren were in the house at the time of the incident, but they were not hurt.

Turo was charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and break and enter, as well as other weapons related charges. He remains in police custody and is expected to appear in a Yellowknife court Wednesday morning.