Local News

Minot man pleads not guilty to manslaughter

The man accused of shooting another man during an altercation at a Minot night club has pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter and reckless endangerment with a dangerous weapon.

Travis Everett McDermott, 40, Minot, made his plea in district court in Minot on Thursday before Judge Todd Cresap to the charges, which arose from an incident at a Minot bar and music venue on May 15.

In his testimony, Minot Police Department investigator Officer Elijah Hanks said the inciting incident for the altercation between McDermott and the victim, who the court referred to as John Doe, was an instance of physical contact between McDermott's girlfriend, Andrea Hasse, and Doe on the dance floor. While Hasse told investigators she had been touched inappropriately by Doe, Hanks said video evidence indicated they had only incidentally bumped into each other.

Hanks said the video showed further interactions between the couple and Doe about physical contact, which progressively grew more aggressive and heated, escalating from words and hand gestures to physical contact. McDermott is alleged to have brandished a concealed firearm at Doe, who grabbed McDermott around the neck and threw him to the floor.

"He claimed the victim attacked him. He told the officer that the victim had threatened to fight him, and claimed that his girlfriend had told him if he didn't fight him she would handle it," Hanks said. "He informed the officer that he brandished his firearm to the victim, which led to the victim trying to grab it, and hitting him, so he shot him."

However, Hanks said that surveillance footage acquired by investigators did not support McDermott's characterization of the events, including his claims that Doe was reaching for the gun. McDermott's defense counsel attorney, Elizabeth Hewitt, attempted to make a self-defense appeal in her rebuttal, pointing to several witness statements and investigator reports that showed Doe to have approached McDermott and his girlfriend while they were seated at a table and escalated the altercation.

"Here I believe it is clear that John Doe approached Mr. McDermott, threatened Mr. McDermott, and initiated contact with Mr. McDermott. Again based on testimony of interviews conducted, Mr. McDermott indicated that he acted in self defense and was in fear of his life," Hewett said.

Cresap ultimately found there was probable cause for the charges, citing the lower burden of proof from the prosecution versus an actual jury trial. McDermott was officially arraigned and pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, a Class B felony, and reckless endangerment, a Class C felony.

The proceedings then transitioned to a bond hearing for McDermott, with Hewett asking the court for a reduction of his current $500,000 bond due to her client being fired from his employment after being charged. John Doe's girlfriend testified against the bond reduction, citing the impact McDermott's release would have on Doe's friends, family and loved ones.

Cresap acknowledged the concerns presented by Doe's girlfriend, saying he was sensitive to them, but said he was bound by law to rule appropriately. McDermott's bond was ultimately reduced to $250,000. His pretrial conference is scheduled for Sept. 13.