Fights leads to shooting in Akeley; one man injured another arrested

An Akeley man was shot in the leg after an altercation early Friday morning.

Hubbard County Sheriff Cory Aukes said his office received a call at 12:16 a.m. from an individual claiming to have been assaulted at his residence in rural Akeley.

Jonathon Smith, 26, told dispatchers that a person by the name of Ryder Schlagel assaulted him and he then shot Schlagel in the leg with a gun. Hubbard County Deputies, officers from the Park Rapids Police Department, MN State Patrol and medical personnel responded to the scene. Upon arrival, officers located 25-year old Schlagel laying on the ground outside of the residence severely bleeding from a gunshot wound to his leg. Officers provided medical attention to the victim until North Memorial Ambulance arrived on the scene.

The investigation showed that an altercation started earlier in the evening involving threatening text messages being made by Schlagel to Smith. Schlagel and another party arrived at Smith’s residence and were pounding on his door. Smith opened his door and a fight ensued. Smith was carrying a loaded 9mm Taurus handgun in his waistband that he removed and fired one shot, striking Schlagel in the leg.

Schlagel was transported to St Josephs Hospital in Park Rapids and was then life-flighted to Sanford Hospital in Fargo.

Smith was placed under arrest for second-segree assault and transported to the Hubbard County Jail. The incident is being investigated by the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office.