Akeley, Minn., man charged with shooting friend, who was airlifted to Fargo in critical condition

An Akeley, Minn., man remained in custody Friday while the friend he said he shot in the leg was reported in critical condition after being airlifted to a Fargo hospital.

Jonathon Hunter Smith, 26, was charged Friday with second-degree assault with a firearm and felony dangerous discharge of a firearm. He was being held at the Hubbard County jail in Park Rapids following his first court appearance, where his bail was set at $100,000.

Hubbard County Attorney Jonathan Frieden said Friday that there was a disagreement between Smith and the victim, 25-year-old Ryder Schlagel, who Frieden said “are more than acquaintances.”

“They’re actually good friends that work together and had a disagreement, text messaging back and forth that led to an altercation,” Frieden said.

The argument escalated to a fight and gunfire at Smith’s home around midnight Friday in rural Akeley, about 18 miles east of Park Rapids.

Frieden said that second-degree assault with a firearm is a serious crime that carries a presumptive 3-year prison sentence for a defendant with no criminal history. Smith and Schlagel both have criminal records in Minnesota.

Smith pleaded guilty in Hubbard County District Court in August 2020 to disorderly conduct in a dangerous weapon case in which he flashed a firearm at another person. Schlagel pleaded guilty to first-degree arson in 2019 for burning down a garage-type structure in Cass County; he served one year in jail and was sentenced to five years probation.

The investigation into Friday’s shooting is ongoing, Frieden said, adding that they didn’t “know exactly how this case will play out” given Schlagel’s condition.

“We do understand that the victim is receiving treatment,” he said. “We are waiting to find out more information about how the victim is doing.”

Hubbard County Sheriff Cory Aukes said in a press release Friday that law enforcement officers responded to a 911 call from Smith at 12:15 a.m. Friday. He told dispatchers that he had been assaulted at his residence by Schlagel and had shot him in the leg.

Sheriff’s deputies, Park Rapids police officers, State Patrol troopers and medical personnel found Schlagel severely bleeding on the ground outside Smith’s home. He was given medical aid until North Memorial Ambulance took him to the Park Rapids hospital. He was later airlifted to Sanford Hospital in Fargo.

The preliminary investigation outlined in the charges found that Schlagel and another friend were pounding on Smith’s door after exchanging the messages. Smith, armed with a 9-mm handgun in his waistband, opened the door and a fight ensued. According to the charges, he fired once, striking Schlagel in the leg.