Donald Lee Cooper Jr., 28, has been extradited back to Minot from Wisconsin to face accomplice to murder and attempted murder charges.

Cooper made an initial appearance Wednesday before Judge Gary Lee on Class AA felony accomplice to murder in the Jan. 12, 2020 shooting death in Minot of Dominick Stephens, Class A felony attempted murder of Stephens’ passenger, Class C felony reckless endangerment, and Class C felony terrorizing charges.

According to court documents in the Ward County case, Cooper and co-defendant Michael Lamart Dennis II had been involved in a physical altercation on Jan. 12, 2020 with Stephens’ passenger at an area hotel. That led to a car chase throughout northwest Minot, with Cooper and Dennis firing at the car driven by Stephens. The car Cooper and Dennis were in was driven by Marcus Jermaine Lee. Stephens was shot twice in the back and crashed his vehicle into a boulder in front of the Minot State University Dome at 6:07 a.m. on Jan. 12, 2020. Stephens was killed and his passenger was not injured. Dennis and Marcus Lee pleaded guilty and were sentenced earlier. Dennis is serving 20 years and Marcus Lee is serving 15 years in prison.

Cooper fled to Milwaukee, Wis., where he crashed into another car and killed two people while he was fleeing from U.S. Marshals in April 2020. He subsequently pleaded guilty to negligent homicide charges and was sentenced to 25 years in prison in Wisconsin.

In court on Wednesday, Cooper asked Judge Lee how he could request the evidence the state has against him, generally called ‘discovery’ and asked whether hearsay evidence would be admissible at his trial. Judge Lee told him hearsay evidence is generally not admissible if the defense attorney makes a proper objection. Cooper said he plans to hire a lawyer but wants to review the discovery evidence himself to get started. Judge Lee also directed correctional officers to give Cooper a form to fill out to request a court-appointed attorney.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for June 2 before Lee.