Sheriff: Dispute over tree clearing leads to shooting on Walsh County farm

LANKIN, N.D. — Inches away from being a homicide investigation. A Walsh County man is accused of taking aim at a farm family.

George Tibert, 75, made his first court appearance Monday, Oct. 23, in Walsh County court on three counts of reckless endangerment.

Tibert was asked by WDAY News about the dispute. He denied firing the shots at the home.

Tibert is accused of firing at least five shots from a high caliber rifle into the home on the Mark Novak farmstead off Highway 15 in Lankin Saturday night.

He reportedly fired the shots through a treeline about 250 feet away.

One bullet went through the living room window, missing Novak’s son by about a foot. He was talking with Novak’s wife and the man’s mother.

Another bullet just missed their 14-year-old son, who was in the upstairs portion of the house.

The other shots went into the front door and through the wall and roof.

“I think we’re all extremely lucky that nobody was injured or killed in this incident,” said Walsh County Sheriff Ron Jurgens.

Jurgens said it appears Tibert was angry that Novak has been clearing trees on the end of some land he just purchased near Tibert’s home in Pisek, North Dakota.

Novak said he studied the property line very carefully before any trees were cleared.

“There was a complaint made to the water board about the victim maybe diverting the flow of the water in that area where Mr. Tibert lives and he became very upset about that,” Jurgens said.

Novak claims that too was carefully studied and not true.

When WDAY News asked Tibert about the dispute he replied, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The sheriff also disclosed that Tibert is likely to face more charges in the coming days. He has been accused of shooting and damaging contracting equipment used to clear the trees.

That happened about an hour before the shooting on the farmstead.

Contractors were in the area but not hurt.

Tibert’s criminal background includes drunk driving and other driving related offenses.

“I really have no explanation on why it flared up on Saturday night,” Jurgens said.

Tibert was held without bail and ordered to undergo a psychological and risk assessment evaluation.

“Anything to say to the alleged victims?” WDAY News asked Tibert.

“Nope,” he replied.

If convicted in the reckless endangerment case, Tibert could serve up to five years in prison.

Matt Henson is an Emmy award-winning reporter/photographer/editor for WDAY. Prior to joining WDAY in 2019, Matt was the main anchor at WDAZ in Grand Forks for four years.