MINOT – The man Minot Police say matches the description of a suspect in a February 4, 2023, shooting at the Dakota Lounge made a pretrial appearance in North-Central District Court Wednesday morning.
In a hearing that lasted only a few minutes Theophris Drake, 40, Birmingham, Alabama, confirmed to the court that he would go to trial on the matter. The trial is set for October 24-27, 2023, in front of Judge Douglas Mattson.
Police say Drake shot a man multiple times following an altercation in the Dakota Lounge. According to an affidavit filed with the court, several customers at the lounge followed Drake outside after the shooting took place and maintain Drake confronted them at gunpoint, telling them to get back. Drake then fled the scene but was apprehended by police behind a pile of firewood at nearby Cash Wise grocery. A firearm was also recovered.
Two men were transported to Trinity Hospital with gunshot wounds as a result of the Dakota Lounge altercation, one of whom suffering permanent internal damage and a fractured pelvis.
