Erik Steven Rod

Erik Steven Rod, 44, Minot, was sentenced on Friday to 10 years in prison, with a requirement that he serve five years, and five years of supervised probation for the May 2020 shooting death of his wife, Connie Elizabeth Rod, 37.

Rod pleaded guilty in April to the reduced charge of Class B felony manslaughter.

“It’s not just an accident,” said Judge Gary Lee before he handed down the sentence. “It’s a gross deviation from normalized standards of care.”

Had Erik Rod followed just one of the standardly accepted gun safety rules, Connie Rod would not have been shot, said Judge Lee.

Erik Rod told authorities he had been walking in a hallway adjacent to the living room at the time his new .22 rifle accidentally discharged and struck his wife in the face. Rod told police he had been either clearing or function checking the firearm at the time, in preparation for the camping trip the family had planned. Connie Rod died of her injuries five days later.

Connie Rod’s father, Samuel Juvrud, who spoke during the sentencing hearing, said Erik Rod had taken a “bright light” from the world and had profoundly hurt Connie Rod’s children as well as his own daughter, who was in the home at the time of the shooting according to past reports.

“I think your arrogance preceded your stupidity or you intended this to happen the way that they did,” Juvrud told Rod at the Friday hearing.

Rod, who served 17 years in the U.S. Armed Forces Security Forces before his retirement, had been trained in handling firearms and acted carelessly in handling the weapon, according to the prosecution. Rod’s defense attorney, Patrick Waters, said Rod had also worked as manager at the local animal shelter before the shooting.

Connie Rod had been a counselor and had most recently worked at the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch at Burlington. She and Erik Rod had been married for about one year at the time of the shooting.

Erik Rod said at the sentencing that he loved Connie Rod and was devastated by what he did.

Rod must serve 85% of his sentence and will be given credit for the 233 days he has already served in jail plus 33 days off his sentence for good behavior. A restitution hearing will be held at a later date.