All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law
Michael Truax, 35, of Lander, is facing one count Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, along with one count Battery and one count Reckless Driving. These charges come after the Lander Police Department was dispatched to the 300 block of Washington Street for a reported “shots fired” call at around 4:42 pm on May 1st, 2020.
Truax had his preliminary hearing on May 29th. The case and all charges have been transferred to District Court for arraignment. The court date is set for June 30th.
Court documents describe responding LPD officers finding a “male victim with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his body.” Witnesses reportedly shared with the officers that Truax fled the scene.
Truax was taken into custody and allegedly admitted to shooting the victim, according to the court documents. A neighbor near the scene had a security camera that recorded the altercation that reportedly started because the victim owes Truax money. The victim was allegedly supposed to pay Truax $1,000 on May 1st, to help repay approximately $1,300 that Truax had paid for his bond.
The video shows Truax approaching the victim in his vehicle “at a high rate of speed…and stops just short of hitting him,” according to the court document video summarization. The two begin arguing and become “more heated and animated” as two other individuals attempt to “get in-between and break them up.” Truax can be seen removing a handgun from his vehicle. He then hits one of the individuals who is trying to get in-between them, and pushes the other “out of the way before shooting…one time.” The victim can be seen “backing up and his hands are raised up to his sides horizontally” before being shot. One of the individuals attempting to get in-between them shared, the victim had shouted at Truax to “…do it then” as he was pointing the gun at him.
Attempted Murder in the Second Degree is a felony with a maximum penalty of imprisonment for no less than 20 years. Battery is a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of imprisonment of not more than 6 months, a fine of no more than $750.00, or both. Reckless Driving is a misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of imprisonment for no more than 6 months, a fine of no more than $750.00, or both.