Prior Lake Man Charged After Police Hear Dozens of Gunshots Near Elementary School
Scott County Jail Booking Photo
Published: October 6th 2026
PRIOR LAKE MN: A Prior Lake man is facing a felony weapons charge after police say they heard dozens of gunshots near Five Hawks Elementary School and later found a warm rifle and spent ammunition at a nearby residence, according to a criminal complaint filed in Scott County District Court.
Nicholas Michael Arndt Hagen, 39, is charged with felony intentional discharge of a firearm under circumstances that endangered the safety of another. He is also charged with gross misdemeanor obstruction of the legal process for allegedly resisting officers as they attempted to place him into a squad vehicle.
The felony charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. The obstruction charge carries up to one year in jail and/or a $3,000 fine.
According to the complaint, Prior Lake police officers were patrolling around Five Hawks Elementary School at approximately 7:03 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4, when an officer heard several loud popping noises coming from an area south of the school.
The officer parked at the school and rolled down the squad vehicle's windows. Police allege the officer then heard approximately 15 to 20 distinct cracking noises that, based on his training and experience, he believed were high-caliber gunfire.
As the officer drove southwest from the school, he allegedly heard additional gunfire. A person in the area flagged down police and reported hearing gunshots nearby.
Another witness told police he heard approximately 25 to 30 shots coming from behind a residence on Willow Lane, according to the complaint. The officer allegedly recognized a vehicle parked at the residence and associated it with Hagen based on previous calls for service.
Police say Hagen briefly came outside, looked toward officers and went back inside before later emerging again. An officer ordered Hagen to put his hands up and approach police. Hagen was subsequently handcuffed.
The complaint alleges Hagen dropped to the ground and initially refused to go to a squad vehicle. The officer also reported smelling a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from Hagen.
Officers then worked to clear the residence for safety, according to the complaint. Two other people who had been inside eventually exited the home.
During a protective sweep, police reported seeing several firearms and ammunition in plain view in different areas of the residence.
In the garage, officers allegedly found an AR-style rifle chambered in .300 Blackout sitting on a chair. Police also reported finding spent casings on the garage floor and on a backyard patio.
According to the complaint, an officer touched the rifle's barrel and found it was warm. Based on the officer's training and experience, police believed the rifle had recently been fired.
Additional spent rifle casings and two live .300 Blackout rounds were allegedly discovered outside the rear door. Investigators later obtained a search warrant and collected firearms and ammunition as evidence. The complaint states that no bullet holes were observed inside the garage.
Investigators also spoke with a nearby resident who provided footage from a Ring security camera facing the area behind the residence. According to the complaint, gunshots could be heard on the recording at approximately 7:02 p.m. and again at 7:07 p.m. Police said the footage also showed a person walking or pacing around the backyard patio at approximately 7:09 p.m.
One person who had been inside the home allegedly told investigators she was in a bedroom when she heard gunshots coming from the back of the residence.
Another person who lived at the residence told police the gunfire startled him while he was in a bedroom. He allegedly told investigators that Hagen was home at the time, that he did not own any firearms and that the rifle found in the garage did not belong to him.
Investigators obtained a warrant to collect gunshot-residue and DNA samples from Hagen, according to the complaint.
Police told Hagen he was being taken to jail for the alleged firearm discharge. The complaint alleges Hagen then refused to put his legs inside the squad vehicle and forcefully resisted officers by keeping his legs extended.
An officer ultimately opened the opposite side of the squad vehicle and pulled Hagen away from the door, according to the complaint.
Hagen was transported to the Scott County Jail.
The allegations contained in a criminal complaint represent the prosecution's version of events and have not been proven in court. Hagen is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.