Pastor Willie Littleton from Louisiana was arrested on Thursday amid accusations he shot a thief attempting to steal metal wiring from an air conditioning unit outside Greater Morning Star Baptist Church in Algiers.
There were two men at the scene.
Police claim Pastor Willie ordered the men to stop and threatened them with his gun before firing at least eight shots at one of them hitting him in the head.
The man remains in a serious condition in hospital.
Police have released the pastor on bail after he handed himself in.
If he's found guilty he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.