According to a criminal complaint filed in Beltrami County District Court, Ray Gene Jacob Tahahwah is charged with first-degree assault. He is also charged with carrying or possessing a pistol without a permit in a public place.<\/p>\n
The case was filed under Court File No. 04-CR-26-1128. The alleged shooting happened on May 15, 2026, in Beltrami County.<\/p>\n
Gunfire Reported On Little Norway Avenue<\/h2>\n
Court documents state dispatchers received a report of gunshots around 2:27 p.m. The call came from 1215 Little Norway Avenue Southeast, Lot 4.<\/p>\n
When deputies arrived, they found a male victim outside an entryway. The victim, identified in the complaint as J.K., had a gunshot wound in his upper back.<\/p>\n
The complaint says deputies saw heavy bleeding. They also reported that J.K. appeared to be in severe distress. Emergency aid was provided at the scene.<\/p>\n
Authorities said the wound appeared to involve a punctured lung. The complaint describes the injury as life-threatening.<\/p>\n
![\"Mugshot](\"https:\/\/trfnews.i234.me\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/TahahwahRay.png\")
Ray Gene Jacob Tahahwah<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\nWitnesses Describe Events Before Shooting<\/h2>\n
A witness, identified as R.C., told deputies she was with J.K. earlier that day. She said they had gone to a skate park.<\/p>\n
At the skate park, they allegedly met Ray Gene Jacob Tahahwah. The complaint says R.C. heard Tahahwah make a threatening comment.<\/p>\n
R.C. told deputies that J.K. then said they needed to leave. The two left on bicycles and headed south toward downtown Bemidji.<\/p>\n
The complaint says R.C. later noticed Tahahwah following them on a bicycle. She said he could not catch up.<\/p>\n
As they neared the Little Norway Trailer Park, R.C. saw a blue Honda Civic approach. She told deputies gunshots came from the vehicle.<\/p>\n
R.C. also reported recording the incident on her phone. She gave deputies part of the vehicle\u2019s license plate number.<\/p>\n
Vehicle Later Stopped<\/h2>\n
Authorities issued an alert for a blue Honda Civic. Red Lake Nation Tribal Police later stopped a similar vehicle.<\/p>\n
The complaint says Tahahwah and K.S. were inside the vehicle. K.S. later gave deputies a statement.<\/p>\n
K.S. said she had been with Tahahwah earlier at the skate park. She said she later left to get food.<\/p>\n
According to the complaint, Tahahwah called her and asked to be picked up quickly. She said she picked him up near the south McDonald\u2019s location.<\/p>\n
K.S. told deputies Tahahwah directed her to follow J.K. She said she tried to drive away several times.<\/p>\n
The complaint alleges Tahahwah pulled out a pistol and fired toward J.K. from inside the vehicle. K.S. said she did not know he had a gun.<\/p>\n
Court documents also state Tahahwah was subject to a Domestic Abuse No Contact Order involving K.S.<\/p>\n
The first-degree assault charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $30,000 fine, or both. More information on Minnesota assault law is available through the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes<\/a>.<\/p>\n The pistol charge carries a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both. Minnesota permit law can be viewed through the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes<\/a>.<\/p>\n All charges are allegations. Tahahwah is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.<\/p>\n