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   Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk reports that on April 23rd 2023 at 5:57 a.m. the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Leech Lake Tribal Police Department received 911 calls reporting weapon fire and a drive-by shooting incident at a residence, with one person possibly shot in the area of 164th St NW in Pike Bay Township, rural Cass Lake, MN. 

   Deputies and Officers from the Leech Lake Tribal Police Department immediately responded to the area and began the investigation. The investigation indicated that two residences had been hit by weapon fire and that an adult male victim had been taken to Cass Lake Indian Health Services for treatment of a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. While Officers were on scene, Cass County Dispatch received additional 911 calls reporting weapon fire and a possible shooting incident at a multi-unit housing facility in the City of Cass Lake.  Through the investigation and the caller’s information, a suspect vehicle was identified. The vehicle was located leaving the area and a short pursuit ensued. The vehicle left the roadway on Morning Star Ln NW and came to a stop. Three occupants fled from the vehicle. With the assistance of a Beltrami County K9 Unit, all three occupants, including two adult males and a juvenile male were taken into custody. Firearms were recovered. At the second reported shooting incident, the investigation indicates that no shots were fired but entry was attempted on a housing unit causing property damage. Sheriff Welk reports that due to multiple agencies quickly responding and working together, a successful and safe outcome was achieved and there is no threat to public safety at this time.

   Assisting on the scene and with the ongoing investigation was the Leech Lake Tribal Police Department, Leech Lake Department of Natural Resources, Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minnesota State Patrol. Formal charges are pending and no other information is available for release at this time.

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