A 23-year-old man from Apple Valley has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to a felony firearm assault connected to a shooting near the Dakota County Fairgrounds in Farmington, authorities announced on January 9, 2026. The case stems from an incident last summer that put a juvenile at risk and prompted a criminal investigation by local law enforcement and prosecutors.
The charges relate to a shooting on the evening of August 7, 2025, shortly after attendees were leaving the Dakota County Fair in Farmington, Minnesota. Police and Dakota County sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the area near 2nd Street and Maple Street, just north of the fairgrounds, after reports of an active shooter.
According to court records, officers encountered Sage Steven Strong in the vicinity, dressed in attire matching the suspect description. Law enforcement later found a handgun in the bed of a pickup truck and ammunition in a waist pack worn by Strong. Deputies also recovered a spent .380 shell casing from the roadway near the location of the reported shooting.
Investigators interviewed a juvenile victim who described how Strong had followed him and his friends as they were leaving the fairgrounds. The juvenile said Strong pulled a handgun from his bag, which caused the victim to get down on the ground out of fear. According to the report, Strong allegedly kicked and stomped the juvenile before firing a round in his direction — the bullet coming close to the child’s head.
Witnesses corroborated the victim’s account, and law enforcement also obtained a Snapchat image of the suspect during the investigation. A later identification procedure confirmed Strong as the person involved.
On January 9, 2026, Strong entered a guilty plea to second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, a felony under Minnesota law. The plea agreement allowed the court to impose a sentence without a jury determining aggravating factors.
Strong was sentenced to 36 months in prison by a Minnesota judge. His sentence will be served in the custody of the Minnesota Department of Corrections at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in St. Cloud. The sentence includes credit for 155 days already served while awaiting disposition. Minnesota law requires that at least two-thirds of the sentence be served in custody, with the remaining time potentially under supervised release.
In addition to the shooting case, court records show that Strong was also sentenced on a separate misdemeanor assault charge from an unrelated incident on August 21, 2025, at the Dakota County Administration Building in Hastings, Minnesota. In that case, Strong was convicted of fifth-degree assault, but the other count of fifth-degree assault involving bodily harm was ultimately dismissed. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail, but his credited time already served exceeded this length, resulting in no additional jail time for that conviction.
Crimes involving the discharge of a firearm — especially near public gathering places like fairgrounds — have a strong impact on community safety and perceptions of law enforcement effectiveness. In this case, no one was killed, but the fact that a bullet came dangerously close to a juvenile underscores how quickly such acts can transform a fun, family-oriented event into a frightening and traumatic experience.
Law enforcement and prosecutors pursued this case effectively, using witness statements, physical evidence, and cooperation from community members to secure a conviction and sentence that seek to reflect the seriousness of the offense.
When shootings occur — particularly in community spaces where children and families gather — victims and their loved ones can face not only physical trauma but emotional and legal challenges that extend long after the immediate incident. Securing legal rights and understanding your options after violent crime is essential, whether for the victim or the broader community impacted by ripple effects of violence.
Haggard Crime Victim Attorney, a division of The Haggard Law Firm, is dedicated to helping individuals and families affected by violent crime. The firm provides experienced legal guidance to victims, ensuring their rights are protected as investigations and legal proceedings unfold.
Source:
https://www.limitless-news.com/local/dakota-county-fair-shooting-incident
