Shooting suspect appears in court | News, Sports, Jobs

Ben Pifher/MDN Laquint Tydelle Sarvis, who was allegedly involved in a shooting in downtown Minot on Sunday, appeared in Minot's North Central District Court via Zoom on Monday.

A Fayetteville, North Carolina, man who allegedly injured two people in a shooting in downtown Minot early Sunday morning made his first court appearance Monday.

Laquint Tydelle Sarvis, 23, faces a charge of reckless endangerment-extreme indifference-dangerous weapon, and a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, both class C felonies. Others Charges are being investigated by police. The charges so far carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison in the state penitentiary, fines of $10,000, or both, and because of the weapons-related charges, Sarvis faces mandatory incarceration. two years without parole.

Sarvis, who was also injured by return fire, faces one charge of inadvertent endangerment instead of two because one of the two victims required emergency surgery and was treated in intensive care , without the possibility of speaking with prosecutors. The prosecution has also failed to locate a bullet and is working to find witnesses.

According to the prosecution, there is video evidence showing Sarvis fired at least one shot in the vicinity of 40 to 50 people. Sarvis has faced several weapons-related charges in the past, including firing a weapon into a residence.

The state is pushing for information on an ongoing case of illegal possession of a firearm, prior theft conviction and various convictions in South Carolina. Those charges include attempted murder in 2022, which Sarvis pleaded to first-degree assault and battery. Additionally, Sarvis was convicted of discharging a firearm into a dwelling and is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm for which an arrest warrant may be issued, according to prosecutors. Due to these charges, the prosecution requested a $100,000 cash bond and that Sarvis have no contact with the victims.

Sarvis said that for the charges already filed against him, he has a preliminary hearing that could go one way or the other. He further explained that the 2022 plea deal could have been reduced further, stating: “If I had a lawyer, I would have beaten that (aggravated assault) charge as well, because the situation, and I feel like that shouldn't be held against me in this case, but that's what she is. I have bills. I have some things to pay for there. he said.

The prosecution emphasized that Sarvis should still be on probation from previous charges. “For my probation for first degree assault”, Sarvis interrupted, “I received five years of probation with that, and on August 15, 2023, I was sentenced to prison for the remainder of my probation.” According to Sarvis, he is no longer on probation. Before Sarvis spoke, he was warned by North Central District Judge Gary Lee that everything he said was being recorded and could be used against him in the case.

Lee agreed with the prosecution's recommendations, citing the mandatory minimum sentence Sarvis faced, the seriousness of the alleged crimes, his tenuous ties to North Dakota and public safety. Recommendations include $100,000 cash-only bail, no contact order with victims, surrender of all firearms and dangerous weapons to Ward County Sheriff's Office, notice of change of address and a restriction on North Dakota's borders, except with court approval.

Sarvis had not spoken with an attorney and said he intended to file for a public defender.

The preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 1 and a pretrial conference on October 9.