A man pointed an AR-15 style rifle at another man and fired several rounds at his feet during an argument outside a residence in Audubon, causing debris and shrapnel injuries, according to the complaint.
Brandon Paul Szalay faces three felony charges in Becker County District Court: second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of possessing a firearm or ammunition after a conviction for a crime of violence.
According to the complaint, Audubon police and Becker County deputies responded to a shots fired call at a residence in Audubon at about 3:29 p.m. on October 20. Officers found Szalay standing outside and took him into custody. The complaint says Szalay smelled strongly of alcohol and asked for a lawyer after being read his Miranda rights.
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The victim told officers he went to Szalay’s residence after discovering that Szalay’s dogs had killed his daughter’s emotional support rabbit. The victim reported yelling at Szalay, who then came outside and argued with him about the dogs and the rabbit. The victim said he needed to dispose of the rabbit and tossed it over the fence.
The complaint states Szalay went inside, returned with an AR-15 style rifle and pointed it directly at the victim. Szalay then pointed the rifle down toward the victim’s feet and fired several rounds. Four rounds struck the ground around the victim, one hit the top of the fence and another hit a tool on the ground. Debris and gravel from the shots hit the victim in the legs, and the victim sustained an injury to his left leg believed to be from a bullet fragment.
Officers executed a search warrant at Szalay’s residence and found five spent shell casings by the front step. Inside, they located six firearms, including three rifles and three pistols, along with firearm parts, magazines and containers of ammunition.
The complaint says Szalay has two prior felony convictions under chapter 152, making him ineligible to possess firearms or ammunition for life: an attempted second-degree controlled substance crime, sale, convicted in 2006, and fifth-degree controlled substance possession, convicted in 2008.
The charges were filed October 22 in Becker County District Court.
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