St. Cloud Man Arrested, Charged with Two Felonies After October 19th Shooting

(KNSI) — A St. Cloud man is facing two felony charges after a shooting outside an apartment complex earlier this month.

On October 19th, around 1:55 a.m., authorities responded to a report of gunfire outside the building on Rivercrest Drive. A short time later, a man who had been shot several times showed up at CentraCare – St. Cloud Hospital. He was severely injured as bone fragments and a bullet was found lodged in his spinal column, leaving him with limited mobility in his right leg.

Investigators learned that two women had brought the victim to the hospital. They told police they heard a gunshot and ran outside only to find the man lying in the grass.

The shooting reportedly happened after an argument involving the victim and 26-year-old Lara Tetyang Puok. Witnesses say Puok was accusing the man of assaulting his nephew and then hitting the man, who hit back. Puok then allegedly pulled a gun and shot the victim as he tried to run away.

A nationwide arrest warrant was issued for Puok. He was taken into custody Monday night in Des Moines and remains held without bail.

He has been charged with first-degree assault and using a firearm during an assault.

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