A man accused of assaulting several people Friday with a wooden samurai sword was formally charged Tuesday.

Benjamin Lerum, 18, was charged with three counts of felony second-degree assault. According to the court complaint, officers responded to a report of someone threatening others with a gun at about 11 p.m. Friday on the 300 block of First Avenue Southwest. Officers did not find a gun, but instead spoke with a victim who said Lerum came to the door of the residence and hit another victim with the wooden samurai sword on the shoulder.

The victim reported he and another person went outside to confront Lerum, who then struck the second person on the wrist with the sword. Lerum then allegedly chased one of the victims with the sword, and someone yelled Lerum had a gun.

Another witness who was reportedly watching from an upstairs apartment near the scene saw about 15 people, along with Lerum chasing someone down the road with the sword.

When officers found and arrested Lerum, they reportedly learned he was afraid that a group of people were going to assault him. Lerum said one of the victims called and harassed him and challenged him to a fight, according to the report. He then drove to the scene to find that person. He told officers the group of about 15 came outside and he was afraid they would assault him, so he got the wooden sword from his car. He was allegedly hit in the chest by one person, who he then struck with the sword.

Lerum is next scheduled for court Nov. 30.