New details emerge in Watford City murder investigation
By Patrice Bumstead
Farmer Editor
Hugo Hernandez Jr., 32, of Watford City, N.D., is facing a Class C Felony charge of Negligent Homicide and a Class B Misdemeanor for Discharge of a weapon within the city, following the death of Brianne Anderson last March.
According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed with the Northwest Judicial District, information was relayed to the McKenzie County Dispatch Center that “Jane Doe” and Hugo Hernandez Jr. had both sustained gunshot wounds at approximately 11:42 p.m., on March 22, 2023, at a second-floor apartment located at the 700 block of Main Street in Watford City, N.D.
Hernandez, along with another man, Zachary King, and Doe were consuming alcohol at Hernandez’s residence when the shooting occurred.
The McKenzie County Farmer was able to confirm with a family member on March 23, 2023, that Jane Doe was 32-year-old Brianne Anderson of Dickinson, N.D. Anderson worked in Watford City as a marketing representative for The Farmer.
King was outside of the residence when law enforcement and first responders arrived. Upon entering the apartment, authorities found Anderson lying on the kitchen floor. First responders immediately began providing life-saving medical aid to Anderson as she had sustained a gunshot wound to her abdomen/thoracic cavity and was going into shock. It was noted that Hernandez sustained a superficial wound to the hand.
While performing live-saving measures to Anderson, first responders located a 40-caliber bullet casing inside the hood of the hooded sweatshirt she was wearing at the time of the shooting.
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