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Monthlong manhunt after downtown Fargo bar shooting ends in charges for suspect, fiancee

The shooting left three people injured and led to a monthlong search for Brandon Grant. His fiancee, Antoinette Rose Rodriguez, 34, is accused of not informing police of Grant’s location, despite being found in the hotel room where he was arrested.

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Brandon Grant, left and Antoinette Rodriguez

FARGO — A Fargo man wanted in connection to a downtown bar shooting that left three injured last month and his fiancee, who is accused of hindering law enforcement in their search for the man, are both behind bars.

Cass County Judge Tristan Van de Streek set bond on Monday, March 22, for Brandon Roosevelt Grant, 43, at $500,000. Grant was arrested around 12:30 a.m. Monday at the Hotel deLuxe, 1407 35 St. S., on suspicion of shooting three people early Feb. 21 at the Bismarck Tavern, 522 Broadway N.

Few details had been made available to the public about what happened before the shooting, but court documents unsealed Monday shed more light on the allegations Grant faces.

According to a criminal complaint:

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Empire Tavern is seen Monday, Jan. 25, at 424 Broadway, Fargo. Michael Vosburg / Forum Photo Editor

Video footage at the bar showed William Carr Jr. approach Grant with a phone before Carr allegedly punched Grant multiple times. Carr confronted Grant about sexually abusing a child Carr knew, an allegation Fargo police are investigating.

Multiple people joined the fight, but it was quickly broken up by bar staff.

Grant, Carr and others were led out of the bar. That’s when Grant pulled out a handgun and shot Carr, Tommie Trent and John Clemons, court documents alleged.

Grant then fled the scene, according to court documents.

Police responded at 12:09 a.m. to the Bismarck.

Clemons was hit with one bullet that went through his arm and chest. Carr had three wounds — one in each leg and one to his chest. Trent was hit once in the face, once in his foot and twice in his leg, court documents said.

In total, police recovered 13 bullets that were believed to be shot from a .40-caliber pistol, according to the complaint.

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Police believe Grant ditched his handgun in a dumpster, Assistant State’s Attorney Tracy Hines said. The weapon was recovered after police received a tip from a Fargo resident, according to the complaint.

Grant has been charged with three felony counts each of attempted murder and aggravated assault. Carr, Trent and Clemons have not been charged in connection to the incident.

Prosecutors asked Grant be held on a $1 million bond because he evaded capture for a month and had a long criminal history.

In arguing for a $100,000 bond, defense attorney Steven Mottinger said Grant planned to turn himself in. The defendant contacted the lawyer’s office in late February to work out a date to go to the police department.

The plan was to turn himself in Wednesday, Mottinger added.

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Grant’s fiancee, Antoinette Rose Rodriguez, 34, also appeared Monday in court on a felony charge of hindering law enforcement. She’s accused of not informing police of Grant’s location despite being found in the hotel room where he was arrested.

Rodriguez previously told WDAY, an affiliate of The Forum, that she was in the Bismarck with Grant the night of the shooting. She said she didn’t see the shooting but asserted Grant acted in self-defense.

She also begged Grant to turn himself in when she appeared in newscasts.

Rodriguez has been assigned Daniel Bertsch for her defense attorney. He was not immediately available for comment.

April Baumgarten joined The Forum in February 2019 as an investigative reporter. She grew up on a ranch 10 miles southeast of Belfield, N.D., where her family raises Hereford cattle. She double majored in communications and history/political science at the University of Jamestown, N.D.
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