Man Charged With Attempted Murder in Connection With Shooting of Orono Man

Morrison County prosecutors have charged a northern Minnesota man with attempted murder in connection with the shooting of an Orono man earlier this month.

Randy Shequen, 31, faces one count of second-degree attempted murder without premeditation and one count of second-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Morrison County Chief Deputy Thomas Ploof wrote in the criminal complaint filed against Shequen that an argument began in the early morning hours of Sept. 11 at Shequen's home in Motley and ended with multiple shots fired.

Shequen is accused of discharging a shotgun at least twice and striking Anthony Kmetz, 45, in the back, arm and neck. Kmetz lives in Orono.

KSAX News reports Shequen and Kmetz are cousins and that a delay in charges being filed was due to Kmetz not reporting the incident for several days.

Kmetz told investigators he fled the home on his motorcycle, saying he believed Shequen would have killed him had he stayed. He additionally told investigators he was shot from behind while attempting to leave the residence and said the altercation began because Shequen felt Kmetz did not back him up during a bar fight earlier in the evening.

Two shotgun wads and a shotgun shell were discovered by police near where Kmetz said the shots were fired during the execution of a search warrant at Shquen’s residence late last week. Deputies also found broken glass with blood on it, as well as a box of shotgun shells with 10 rounds missing.

Morrison County Sheriff deputies arrested Shequen at his place of employment last Wednesday. According to the police report, Shequen told investigators during a taped interview that he did fire at Kmetz but that he did not intend to hit him.

Shequen has been charged with  He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted and given the maximum sentence for the crimes. After making his initial appearance in front of a judge last Friday, Shequen remains in the Morrison County Jail as of this posting and is scheduled to make his next court appearance on Oct. 3.