FARGO, N.D. — Levi Larteh, 26, of Fargo, pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of intentional murder and reckless endangerment stemming from the October 2025 death of Nadin Khoury, 28. The plea was entered during a contested preliminary hearing in Cass County Court.
Larteh faces a Class AA felony count of intentional murder and a Class B felony count of reckless endangerment with a firearm in connection with the shooting that occurred on October 27, 2025, in the 2700 block of 41st Street South. According to court documents, Khoury died from multiple gunshot wounds.
During the hearing, Fargo Police Detective Justin Valenti testified that investigators found security camera footage showing Larteh concealing what appeared to be a firearm in his pants before entering the apartment building’s stairwell, where Khoury was later discovered. Valenti likewise read from rap lyrics found on Larteh’s phone, stating, “We keep it quiet, we tryna murk him,” clarifying for the court that “murk” is slang for kill.
Valenti stated his investigation led him to believe Larteh fatally shot Khoury. He further testified that Larteh had “lied” about owning or possessing a weapon.
Public Defender Leah Jo Viste argued the case against Larteh is entirely circumstantial. “There’s no video of my client actually shooting,” Viste said. She pointed to evidence suggesting Khoury had other enemies, referencing a separate shooting incident two days prior to his death where Khoury was shot at by two other individuals. Viste also noted that video evidence corroborated Larteh’s statement about being at a store.
Prosecutors acknowledged the security footage does not depict Larteh firing a weapon, but maintained it places him at the scene of the crime. Valenti confirmed Khoury had been the target of a shooting just two days before his death.
Larteh was arrested on October 28, 2025, at a gas station in Barnesville, Minnesota, according to Fargo Police. He has been held at the Cass County Jail on $1 million bail since October 30, 2025.
The case is also connected to a prior shots-fired incident on October 25, 2025, in the 4800 block of 38th Street South, though the exact nature of that connection remains under investigation. Police have stated that Khoury and Larteh knew each other.
Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski previously described Khoury’s death as a “tragedy” and noted that Khoury left behind a pregnant wife.
Larteh’s next court appearance is scheduled for April 9, 2026, for a felony dispositional conference.
