AUDUBON, Minn. – Authorities say a Becker County man fired a rifle at his neighbor after a dispute over the neighbor’s pet rabbit, which the man’s dogs had killed. He now faces felony charges.
A criminal complaint filed in Becker County District Court charges Brandon Paul Szalay, 43, with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. It also charges him with two counts of illegally possessing a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon. The assault charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison, and each firearm possession charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years.
According to the complaint, Audubon police and Becker County deputies responded to a report of shots fired at a residence on Oct. 20. The man told investigators he went to Szalay’s residence after learning Szalay’s dogs had killed his daughter’s “emotional support rabbit.” The two argued, and the man tossed the rabbit’s body over a fence, according to the complaint.
The complaint states Szalay then went inside, returned with an AR-15-style rifle, pointed it at the man, and fired several rounds toward the ground near him. Investigators said four rounds struck the ground around the man, one hit a fence, and another hit a nearby tool. Debris from the gunfire injured the man’s leg, and investigators believe bullet fragments caused the injury.
Officers arrested Szalay at the scene, where he showed signs of alcohol use, according to the complaint. Police executed a search warrant at his residence and found five spent shell casings and six firearms, including three rifles and three pistols, along with ammunition and firearm parts, according to the complaint.
The complaint states Szalay has two prior felony drug convictions, from 2006 and 2008, which bar him from possessing firearms or ammunition for life.
Szalay remains in custody at the Becker County Jail. He is due back in court on Nov. 2.
This story is based on a criminal complaint, which contains allegations that have not been proven in court.
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