1st degree murder charges filed in Mankato shooting

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - A Blue Earth County grand jury has indicted a Mankato man on 1st degree murder charges for the shooting death of another Mankato man back on December 21.

18-year-old Guenther Boone Jr. was indicted on 5 charges including 1st degree murder, 2nd degree murder, possessing a firearm with no serial number and possession without a permit.

The criminal complaint says officers responded to a shooting call around 3:15 on the morning of December 21. Officers arrived to find a man, later identified as 31-year-old Darious Dashon Johnson of Mankato, dead in the passenger seat of a vehicle on the 100 block of Grove Street.

According to court documents, a witness told police they and Johnson had driven to the 500 block of East Walnut Street to buy “carts,” or marijuana cartridges for e-cigarettes.

The witness says Boone and another person approached, and that Boone opened the door, then shot the passenger in the head.

The two then fled, and the driver drove back to his residence and called 911.

Authorities went to Boone’s residence; after initially denying any knowledge, the complaint says Boone admitted to shooting the victim.

He allegedly told investigators he was going to rob the victim, but shot him when he believed the man was going for a gun.

In a statement, Director of Mankato Public Safety Jeremy Clifton said, “We are pleased with the grand jury’s decision. I would like to thank Public Safety staff and all those who work hard every day to bring those who commit violent crimes in our community to justice, holding them accountable for their actions.”

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