Teens face felony charges in shootings

Two teens arrested for allegedly shooting a .22-caliber rifle at two occupied houses Tuesday night in Little Falls Township each face felony criminal charges.

Juvenile petitions were filed Thursday in Morrison County District Court against Jett Shaffer, 16, and Logan Weisz, 17, both of Little Falls, for their suspected involvement in the shooting.

Shaffer was charged with two counts of drive-by shooting, possession of a firearm by an ineligible person, unlawful removal of a serial number from a firearm, possession of a firearm in which the serial number has been removed and intentional discharge of a firearm under circumstances that endanger the safety of others.

Weisz was charged with two counts of aiding and abetting a drive-by shooting and one count of aiding and abetting the intentional discharge of a firearm under circumstances that endanger the safety of others.

Motions also were filed Thursday in district court to certify Shaffer and Weisz as adults. Both are being held at the Lino Lakes Juvenile Detention Center.

The shootings were reported by the homeowners about 9:45 p.m. Tuesday. One of the homeowners followed the suspect vehicle and maintained contact with the Morrison County sheriff's dispatchers by cell phone.

With information provided by this resident, Morrison County sheriff's deputies, Little Falls and Royalton police officers and State Patrol troopers located the suspect vehicle on Highway 10 near the intersection of Iris Road, about three miles south of Little Falls.

Deputies executed a high risk felony stop and apprehended Shaffer and Weisz. A search of the vehicle revealed a sawed-off .22-caliber rifle and spent casings, the sheriff's department reported.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.