HORACE, N.D. — A man who suffered injuries during an assault at a bar in Horace early Sunday, June 28, has died, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities identified the victim as 31-year-old Horace resident Marlin Klatt.
The incident happened early Sunday at Big Erv's Bar and Grill.
Through an initial investigation, sheriff's deputies learned that a man assaulted a bartender and two patrons, the sheriff's office said.
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The sheriff’s office initially arrested Jordan Ryker Pendleton, 25, of Horace, on suspicion of assault, but after it was learned Klatt died on Monday, June 29, Pendleton was charged with manslaughter and aggravated assault, both felonies, as well as two misdemeanor counts of simple assault.
According to court documents:
Pendleton told investigators he and Klatt and another man, Roy Bishop, were talking outside the bar after it closed when Klatt began talking to Pendleton about an incident that happened sometime between 2014 and 2016.
Angered by what Klatt said, Pendleton said he hit Klatt once in the face with a closed fist, knocking him out and causing Klatt to fall to the ground and strike his head on the sidewalk.
At that point, Bishop and another man, Randy Silvas, tried to intervene and Pendleton assaulted them as well, the court documents said.
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The sheriff's office held a news conference Tuesday morning that included Cass County prosecutors.
Sheriff Jesse Jahner said he could not disclose additional details regarding what Klatt and Pendleton argued about, but he said the fight outside the bar was captured by the bar's surveillance camera.
Cass County State's Attorney Birch Burdick said Pendleton had made an appearance in Cass County District Court and conditions of release were set at $500,000 cash.
Officials said an autopsy will be conducted to determine Klatt's official cause of death.
Pendleton remained in custody Tuesday at the Cass County Jail.
