A Grand Forks man accused of attempted murder pleaded not guilty Friday in Grand Forks District Court.
Mohamed Aweis Mohamed, 31, speaking through an interpreter at Friday's proceedings, waived his right to a preliminary hearing at his arraignment. He is charged with three felonies: attempted murder, reckless endangerment and terrorizing.
The charges stem from a May 28 incident, when Mohamed allegedly fired a handgun in an apartment during an altercation with another man.
According to affidavit of probable cause filed with the court, officers were dispatched around 11:30 p.m. to the Grandview Apartment complex at 1850 34th St. S. on a report of a disturbance involving a firearm and sounds of two men arguing.
Mohamaed allegedly had loaded the gun and pointed it in the direction of the apartment resident, identified as Douglass Devonn Palmer. Palmer then grabbed Mohamed's arm, during which the gun was fired.
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When police arrived, Palmer was standing over Mohamed, pinning him down.
Police recovered a handgun and bullet casing from the scene, according to the affidavit.
Under North Dakota state law, attempted murder is a Class A felony with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $20,000 fine. The reckless endangerment and terrorizing charges are Class C felonies and each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Mohamed, who said he has lived in the U.S. since 1997 but is not a U.S. citizen, is a native of Somalia. If he pleads guilty or is convicted of his crimes, he could face deportation.
Also at the arraignment, Mohamed's defense team asked District Court Judge Donald Hager to lower his bond from $50,000 to $10,000, but the request was denied by the judge.
