Law student pleads not guilty to charges

An IU School of Law student being held on a weapons charge after allegedly shooting an assault rifle from his balcony pleaded not guilty in court Thursday.\nJesse M. Sneed, 27, was arrested Tuesday morning after he allegedly fired several rounds into the ground from his balcony on the west side of town. He is being charged with criminal recklessness with a weapon.\nThe shots were fired from West Arch Haven Avenue, located about two miles from campus. No one was killed or injured by the shots.\nAfter investigating the crime scene, the Bloomington Police Department uncovered a law textbook underneath the balcony titled “Real Estate Transfer, Finance and Development.” The textbook contained two bullet holes, BPD Capt. Joe Qualters said. \nAuthorities are still not aware of the motives for the shootings.\nAttorney Sam Shapiro will be representing Sneed. Shapiro was not available for comment by press time.\nWitnesses called police Tuesday morning after hearing several short bursts of gunfire at Arch Haven Apartments. The Critical Incident Response Team arrived at the scene at about 7:30 a.m. in order to communicate with the suspect. \nSneed, who matched the description of the suspect, was seen trying to leave the area in a red Chevrolet Cavalier and was taken into custody at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Believing there might be another suspect in the building, officers took extra security measures in order to ensure civilian safety. Qualters said they could not be satisfied with the suspect in custody.\nOfficers were able to evacuate seven of the apartment complex’s residents before the Critical Incident Response Team entered the apartment. BPD did not find any other suspects in the building but located an AK-47 and an AR-15, both assault rifles, in Sneed’s attic.\nHe was taken to BPD for questioning Tuesday morning but declined to comment.\nBPD is still investigating the matter.