By Patrick Tepoorten

A Chisago County grand jury has returned an indictment for one count of first degree murder for Craig Fleming, 46, of Lindstrom. Also returned are charges of second degree murder and two counts of second degree assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with Flemingís threats to witnesses at the scene.

Fleming is indicted for the early morning shooting of Martin Roy Carlson at 30495 Park Street in Lindstrom July 22. Two eyewitnesses to the crime, Jason Slattengren and Tory Mogensen, were also threatened by Fleming after he shot Carlson in the forehead with a .45 caliber handgun.

The shooting was allegedly the result of an argument between Carlson and Fleming in the living room of the Lindstrom address. Shortly after the alleged ìpoint-blank rangeî shooting of Carlson, Fleming fled the residence in his vehicle and drove to his sisterís house, where he instructed her to call 911 and report the crime. He then waited in her driveway for law enforcement to arrive, and was arrested without incident.

In a Friday morning press release, Chisago County Attorney Katherine Johnson referred to the killing of Carlson, 25, of Center City, as an ìexecution-style shooting deathî and indicated that, with the indictment, the legal process for Fleming has essentially begun again. Rather than a contested omnibus hearing that had been scheduled for next Wednesday, Fleming will instead have a first appearance on the new charges on Monday Aug. 28, at 11 a.m.

In delivering an indictment for first degree murder, the grand jury implies that evidence exists that premeditation is a factor in the crime. That is what separates a first degree charge from a second degree charge, which implies intent to kill but not necessarily premeditation. The second degree murder charge also leveled against Fleming would leave a trial jury the option of returning a verdict on either first or second degree murder should it go to trial.

Fleming is currently being held at the Chisago County Jail on $1 million bail.

ìWe are pleased that this violent and senseless murder has resulted in a grand jury indictment,î said Johnson on Friday morning.