A Minot woman found herself in front of Municipal Court Judge Ashley Beall Tuesday on a charge of discharging firearms within the city. The hearing was brief as the case was transferred to District Court.

The charge against the woman stems from an incident outside the Loaf’N Jug at 1512 4th Ave. NW at 2:45 a.m. on May 16. Police responded to a report of shots fired. According to police, the woman “willfully shot at least 8 warning shots” with one of the bullets passing through a window of a nearby residence before striking a door. The owner of the residence declined to file charges.

The woman reportedly told police she fired the shots as a warning to a person who was involved in a physical altercation with her boyfriend. A citation was issued July 2 and a warrant of arrest on July 8. Minot’s Code of Ordinances, Sec. 23-61, prohibits the discharge of firearms with the city limits other than by law enforcement, at a lawful shooting range or in defense of person or property. Further exceptions allow the controlled shooting of Canadian geese on Minot Park District property and to reduce wildlife hazard at the Minot International Airport.

All other discharging of firearms in the city is considered a misdemeanor B with a maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine. No date had been set for the woman’s District Court appearance as of Tuesday afternoon.