MOORHEAD – Two Moorhead men arrested after a shooting in the Romkey Park neighborhood here on Tuesday allegedly told police they went there to fight with the victims, one of whom was pistol-whipped following the gunplay.
But the four victims in the incident that played out practically under the noses of a couple of law enforcement officers told police they went there to buy marijuana.
That's according to criminal charges filed against Alfred Coylee Lamar, 27, and Lawrence Alexander Leslie, 23, who made their first appearances Thursday in Clay County District Court on three counts of felony second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.
Lamar faces an additional count of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, third-degree assault and a person in possession of a firearm convicted of a violent crime charge, all felonies.
He's the accused gunman in the incident who allegedly approached a group of men on 20th Street South and 11th Avenue on Tuesday as two local law enforcement officers sat in an unmarked car in the Romkey Park area working a special detail for the newly formed Metro Street Crime Unit.
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Police saw one of the men approach the victims with gun drawn, but were turning their car around when the gunshot sounded, missing the victims.
Leslie and Lamar then took off running, but not before Lamar beat the man so badly with the handle of his gun that he broke his tooth and tore his lip open, court documents say.
When police caught up to Leslie and Lamar, Leslie told them he and his brother Lamar went to fight the other group.
Leslie told police he also had a gun, but did not draw it.
Leslie also faces a gross misdemeanor charge of carrying a weapon without a permit.
Their next court appearance is set for Aug. 3.
