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A man accused of shooting and seriously wounding a southern Minnesota police officer pleaded guilty Thursday to attempted murder.

Tyler Robert Janovsky, 37, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer during a hearing in Waseca County District Court.

 Janovsky shot Waseca police officer Arik Matson in the head as Matson and other officers responded to a call of a suspicious person with a flashlight in a backyard on Jan. 6.

Matson is still recovering in a Nebraska rehabilitation facility, the 

 site by his wife, Megan Matson, said he has undergone two surgeries since the shooting and is possibly looking at another in a few months.

“In the last 6 months Arik has slowly but surely struggled and put up a fight to regain his daily capabilities back that we all take for granted,” she wrote. He is able to walk short distances with help, she said.

Janovsky also fired directly at a second officer and in the direction of a third, leading prosecutors to charge him with three counts of attempted murder. One of the counts and a gun charge will be dismissed as part of his plea deal.

Sentencing is set for Sept. 18. He faces 35 years in prison under the plea agreement. Janovsky's public defender did not immediately respond to a phone message for comment on his behalf Thursday.

Officer remains in critical condition

Police officer in 'critical but stable' condition after shooting in Waseca

City of Freeborn waits as officer recovers

Crime, Law and Justice

The Associated Press

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A man accused of shooting and seriously wounding a southern Minnesota police officer has pleaded guilty to attempted murder. 

Man pleads guilty to shooting, wounding Waseca officer

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