MINOT – A man charged as a result of a shooting in which two people were wounded made an appearance in North-Central District Court Thursday.
Theophris Drake, 39, Birmingham, Alabama, entered a not guilty plea to each of five felony charges in front of Judge Douglas Mattson. The charges include a B felony, Aggravated assault-Firing/hurling firearm/destructive device-Permanent loss or impairment, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
Drake is facing four C felonies – Aggravated assault with a firearm, Terrorizing with a dangerous weapon, Reckless endangerment-Extreme Indifference, and Tampering with physical evidence.
The charges stem from an early morning incident on February 4, 2023, at the Dakota Lounge in southwest Minot. Police responded after receiving a call of two people being shot.
According to an affidavit filed with the court, a witness on scene told police that he tried to stop the man later identified as Drake, outside the business where Drake was pointing a gun at people and telling them to get back, before pointing the gun directly at the witness.
Police apprehended Drake on the premises of nearby Cash Wise Grocery and recovered a handgun. One of the victims in the shooting reportedly suffered permanent physical damage as a result of the shooting, leading to the most serious charge against Drake.
A Pretrial Conference for Drake has been set for May 24 at 8:30 a.m. He remains free on bond.
