On a quiet Saturday in southeast Minot, October 18, a life was ended and a community left shaken. At about 3:04 p.m. that afternoon, Minot police were called to a residence in the 10-block of 39th Avenue SE after reports of gunfire. When they arrived, they found Lance David Phillips, 38, bleeding from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but despite efforts, he later died from his injuries.
At the scene, officers also detained Racheal Kathryn Foster, 43, who lives in Minot. Initially, she was arrested for possession of felony drug paraphernalia. But as detectives dug deeper—conducting interviews, collecting forensic evidence, and reviewing statements—they upgraded her charges. On October 19, Foster was formally arrested and charged with Murder (Class AA felony). She was transferred to Ward County Jail under no further incident.
The Minot Police Department says the investigation is ongoing and that they are still working to piece together what led to this tragedy. As of now, they haven’t released details about any motive or the nature of the relationship between Foster and Phillips. They have asked anyone with relevant information to step forward and contact the department.
Neighbors in that southeast Minot neighborhood described a stillness in the aftermath—homes shuttered, people whispering behind curtains, and a pall hanging heavy in the air. Few expected violence to visit that block. “You don’t imagine something like this next door,” one resident said quietly. The arrest of Foster came quickly in the hours after the shooting, which has reassured some in the community that law enforcement acted swiftly.
Authorities have been careful in public statements, emphasizing the sensitive nature of the case and the need to not compromise ongoing investigative threads. Evidence collection is said to include ballistic analyses, witness interviews, and examination of the scene. While such investigations can take time, police hope clarity emerges soon.
For now, the people of Minot are left with sorrow and questions. A man’s life has been lost, a suspect is behind bars, and investigators chase answers to what really happened that late afternoon.