79-Year-Old Accused Of Shooting Mentor Man In Head Makes First Court Appearance

(KNOX) – A 79-year-old Bagley man made his initial court appearance in Polk County Court on seven felony charges where he is accused of shooting a man in the head during an attempted break in.

Leslie Anderson is charged with one felony for second degree attempted murder, one felony for first degree assault, three felony counts of second degree assault and two more felony counts for first degree burglary.

Court documents say the incident happened while Anderson was attempting to break into a farm in Mentor, Minnesota. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office was sent to the farm on September 20th at around 2:48am, when they got a report that 55-year-old Shawn Qualley was shot in the head.

Law enforcement found Qualley covered in blood, as his wife was applying pressure to his wound. Court documents say that Qualley told officers that Anderson tried to murder him.

Qually was told by his daughter that someone was trespassing on farm property, and Qualley went to check out the situation. Anderson confronted Qualley in a shop where there were tools, and that’s where Anderson shot him.

Anderson also apparently shot at his wife and daughter but they were not hurt, and they called 911.

Qualley’s wife told law enforcement that Anderson has been accusing Qualley of stealing from him. She said that Anderson had stolen items from Qualley’s family, but not for a couple of years.Anderson said Qualley stole tools from him a week or two before the shooting.

Anderson was arrested and apparently told law enforcement that he was the person who shot Qualley when he was seen on trail camera.

Anderson has another hearing scheduled for November 10th at 9am. He is currently out of custody after posting a $300,000 bond.