Grand Forks County (trfnews.i234.me) – One month after being convicted by a jury of murder, terrorizing, and reckless endangerment in the July 4, 2024, shooting death of James Jorgensson at Sleders Bar in downtown Grand Forks, Nicholas Narveson, 27, is speaking out from the Grand Forks County Jail.
Narveson, who faces a potential life sentence when he is sentenced on August 1, does not dispute that he shot Jorgensson. However, in a lengthy and emotional statement, Narveson insists the shooting was an act of self-defense and blames a third, unnamed individual for orchestrating the circumstances that led to the deadly encounter.
“If the situation had been that I walked into the bar, ordered a drink, and shot a man reaching into his vest, then yes, that would be reckless,” Narveson said. “But that’s not what happened.”
According to Narveson, a neighbor he barely knew allegedly coerced him into going to the bar, made cryptic comments along the way, and warned him to “stay close to the wall” once inside. Narveson claims these remarks made him feel uneasy even before he saw Jorgensson.
He described a moment in which Jorgensson exited the bathroom and reached into his vest. Feeling cornered, and believing Jorgensson was about to pull a weapon, Narveson fired. No weapon was found on Jorgensson.
“It was 13 seconds of thinking that man had a gun before I made my decision,” Narveson said. “Unfortunately, I took a life while believing I was saving my own.”
He also accused the unnamed acquaintance—whose name was redacted from the statement but is part of the court record—of orchestrating the situation and misleading authorities after the shooting.
“He smiled at me while I was laying on the ground in shock, identifying me as the shooter to police,” Narveson said.
Narveson criticized the trial process, alleging the jury disregarded self-defense laws—particularly those concerning “mistaken beliefs”—and that emotion, not law, guided the guilty verdict. He expressed regret, apologized to the Jorgensson family and others affected, and said he may fight the conviction for the rest of his life.
“What I did was wrong,” Narveson concluded, “but I believe a fair and impartial jury would have concluded I did the wrong thing for the right reason—and that is self-defense.”
Narveson’s sentencing is scheduled for August 1, where he could face life in prison.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.