An Arizona aggravated assault case is drawing scrutiny after a Scottsdale man was accused of pulling an assault rifle on his mother during a heated dispute over property rights inside their shared home.
Beau Lieurance, 28, appeared in court facing multiple felony charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a weapon during the commission of a felony, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. Prosecutors allege the confrontation escalated to the point where Lieurance pointed the firearm at his mother and an elderly man staying at the residence, and pulled the trigger. The weapon did not discharge.
According to court proceedings reports, the altercation stemmed from a disagreement over what Lieurance described as his “entitlement” to a portion of the property.
“I finally became fed up,” Lieurance told the court. “It was my part of the house which I haven’t gained entitlement to over the last seven years,” he added.
Prosecutors questioned whether Lieurance knew the gun would fail to fire and raised concerns about his mental health. During the hearing, a Maricopa County prosecutor referenced Lieurance’s gaming habits, specifically his involvement with the strategy video game franchise Total War.
“There are allegations that he currently plays a video game titled Total War,” the prosecutor said. “He plays that approximately 50 to 60 hours per week. There are concerns with the people that he plays with … that are based, possibly in North Africa, that have ties to Islamic extremists.”
Authorities also alleged that Lieurance told law enforcement he uses hidden communication platforms connected to his gaming activity.
The prosecutor said Lieurance admitted to having “secret apps on his phone that he uses to communicate with individuals that he is playing Total War with.”
Lieurance denied the accusation in court, responding, “That’s completely false.”
He also rejected the broader claims against him, telling the judge the case is “completely false” and asserting that he is the true victim in the situation.
“It was very obvious to any neighbor you could ask of that it was an intimidation for three to four days,” Lieurance said. “I believe that certain liquids was laced in some of my drinks.”
The court has not publicly confirmed whether investigators believe the firearm malfunctioned or whether Lieurance understood it would not fire.
Total War is a long-running strategy franchise known for blending turn-based empire management with large-scale real-time battles, attracting a global online player base.
Lieurance was ordered to have no contact with his mother and to stay away from the home. As of Monday, he remained in custody on a $100,000 cash bond.
The case remains under active legal proceedings in Maricopa County Superior Court.
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