A Minot man made an initial appearance in North Central District Court on Monday on charges related to the shooting death of another man in a northeast Minot parking lot.

Jonathan Lee Decoteau, 19, is accused of shooting Dorian Thomas-Harris, 19, Minot, in the early morning of Aug. 13.

Decoteau is charged with manslaughter-adult victim-with a dangerous weapon, a Class B felony; tampering with physical evidence, a Class C felony; and providing false information or report to law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor.

According to court documents, Minot Central Dispatch received a call at 12:51 a.m., reporting an individual bleeding and lying between the garages of a northeast Minot apartment complex.

Officers arrived on scene and located the victim, who was later identified by Minot Police as Thomas-Harris. Thomas-Harris had a gunshot wound to his head and was pronounced deceased on scene, according to the affidavit of probable cause. Officers did not locate a firearm or shell casing on scene.

Decoteau arrived on scene and told the officers he knew Thomas-Harris. Decoteau provided multiple conflicting statements to law enforcement, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Decoteau originally stated he was not present when Thomas-Harris was shot but then said the victim had taken Decoteau’s firearm from him and shot himself. Decoteau claimed Thomas-Harris had talked about harming himself earlier in the day and stated he picked up the firearm and shell casing in a panic and fled the scene without notifying emergency services. The firearm was recovered inside a vehicle registered to Decoteau, but the shell casing was not recovered.

According to court documents, an autopsy of the victim determined the cause of death was homicide because the trajectory of the bullet was at an angle and fired from a distance, making it unlikely to have been self-inflicted.

Court documents indicated several individuals informed investigators Decoteau previously pointed his firearm at people in a reckless or careless manner, and Decoteau had admitted to other individuals that he shot Thomas-Harris accidentally.

A third individual present during the event told investigators Decoteau was displaying his firearm prior to the shooting. The individual stated Decoteau briefly pointed the firearm at both of them. According to information provided to investigators, the witness did not believe Decouteau had malicious intent in pointing the firearm at them before the firearm went off and Thomas-Harris fell to the ground. The witness reported fleeing the scene on foot after telling Decoteau to contact emergency services.

Investigators spoke with Decoteau again, who admitted he was manipulating the firearm when it discharged and struck Thomas-Harris. He said he panicked and left the scene without contacting emergency services.

Decoteau applied for and was granted a public defender. A preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled, based on court records.