CASSOPOLIS — A man who shot a rifle into a crowd, killing one, has been charged with eight felonies and misdemeanors, including murder.

Rolandis Raisean Russell, 24, of the 200 block of Pokagon Street in Dowagiac, was arraigned Monday afternoon after being arrested Sunday in connection to the shooting death of Fabian Wesaw, 42, also of Dowagiac. Russell was charged with seven additional charges. He was denied bail on all charges.

Russell’s charges include:

• The first-degree murder of Fabian Wesaw. The charge carries a sentence of life in prison without parole.
• An assault with intent to murder of Russell’s intended victim. The charge carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
• Carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent. The charge carries a sentence of either five years in prison or a $2,500 fine, with mandatory forfeiture of the weapon.
• Possession of a loaded firearm in or upon a vehicle. The charge carries a sentence of two years in prison or a $2,500 fine, with mandatory forfeiture of the weapon.
• Four counts of felony use of a firearm. The charge carries a sentence of two years consecutively and preceding any term of imprisonment for the felony or attempted felony conviction, with mandatory forfeiture of the weapon.

“The presumption of guilt in this case is great,” said Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz during Russell’s arraignment. “The defendant himself has even admitted to the crime.”

The charges stem from a shooting that took place Sunday morning outside of Beeson Street Bar in downtown Dowagiac. According to police, they were called to the scene for a large fight. As police were leaving the station to respond to the call, they heard several shots ring out in the area. When officers arrived on scene, they found Wesaw dead of a gunshot wound.

Russell was involved in the initial fight, before leaving the scene to retrieve and load an AK-47. When Russell returned the scene, he began firing the weapon into the crowd, hitting and killing Wesaw, according to police. Russell fled the scene, but was apprehended by officers not far from the crime scene after a short foot chase.

Wesaw was determined by investigators not to be Russell’s intended target, nor was Wesaw involved in the fight preceding the shooting.

“This is as serious as an offense gets, murder in the first degree,” Fitz said.

Fitz defended his recommendation that Russell be denied bond Monday, citing the seriousness of the crime and Russell’s previous criminal history, which includes juvenile assault convictions and a disorderly person conviction as an adult.

“The safety of Cass County is paramount,” Fitz said. “Whenever there is a murder charge, the court has the right to deny bond. … Dowagiac is a safe, secure city. We want to keep it that way. It was a tragic event that happened Sunday [morning], and we want to ensure that something like that does not occur again.”

Russell will next appear in court on Aug. 9.