Top Prosecutor Speaks Out On Downtown Fargo Violence

Cass County's top prosecutor weighs in on sentencing for violent offenders in light of downtown violence, and whether it's safe to be downtown

FARGO (KVRR) – Cass County’s top prosecutor is speaking out to address an ongoing controversy over this weekend’s outbreak of violence in the city that left two people dead and another in critical condition from an assault.

Cass County State’s Attorney Kim Hegvik joined the Morning Show to talk about some of the public reaction her office is receiving as a manhunt continues for one of the accused shooters.

He’s Tyrque Jones, 20, wanted in connection with the shooting early Sunday that left one person dead and two others injured in downtown.

Hegvik says, contrary to some other previous media reports, at the time of the shooting, Jones was out on supervised probation after pleading guilty to a C felony, rather than to a misdemeanor plea.

The felony case was adjudicated as a misdemeanor by disposition, which means that a probation violation would require resentencing and would typically result in the case going on the defendant’s record as a felony.

Some members of the public are calling on Hegvik to ask judges for harsher sentences going forward for violent offenders, in light of the weekend’s violence.

Hegvik says she doesn’t see changing how they handle sentencing recommendations, and says the sentences they recommend are based on the facts of each individual case.

She also says judges are ultimately responsible for sentencing, not prosecutors.

She also says downtown has changed in terms of safety dramatically over the past decade and people need to conduct themselves accordingly.