Trial set for former NDSU football player accused of firing gun after party

Trial Date Set for Former NDSU Player Facing Gun Charges

The trial for Jaiden Pickett, a former North Dakota State University (NDSU) football player accused of firing a gun at a party, has been scheduled for April 8, 2025.

However, the trial’s start date remains uncertain, as it is set as a backup, depending on whether other trials scheduled for the same day are completed or canceled. Pickett faces multiple felony charges stemming from a September 2024 incident, including two counts of terrorizing, reckless endangerment, and theft of a firearm.

The case centers around a shooting near the NDSU campus in Fargo, where Pickett allegedly fired a gun after a fight with a fellow athlete.

During a court appearance on January 8, 2025, Judge Tristan Van de Streek set the tentative trial date, though the case could still see changes depending on the availability of court time. Pickett’s attorney, Daniel Bertsch, has filed a motion requesting that one of the terrorizing charges be dismissed. Bertsch argues that there is insufficient evidence to prove that Emma Stans, a witness to the incident, was intentionally placed in fear for her safety. Stans had testified in November that she was inside the house when the shooting occurred. Prosecutors, however, maintain that the case should be left to a jury to decide whether the charge should be dropped, and Judge Van de Streek has yet to rule on the motion.

The shooting incident occurred on September 8, 2024, in the 1200 block of 11th Street North, following an altercation between Pickett and another Bison athlete. As the legal proceedings continue, the case remains a point of contention, especially for NDSU football fans, who have been left wondering about the future of the former linebacker.

Though Pickett has faced significant public scrutiny, it remains to be seen how this trial will impact his personal and professional future. The allegations and subsequent legal challenges have put a halt to his career in college football for the time being, and the upcoming trial will determine the course of his future.

As the trial date approaches, both Pickett’s defense and the prosecution prepare for a case that could have far-reaching consequences for his career and reputation. The legal outcome will also impact how the public views this incident and its implications for the NDSU football program, especially considering the gravity of the charges involved.