WOLVERTON, Minn. — A northwestern Minnesota man accused of shooting and killing a partygoer at a New Year’s celebration he was hosting made his first appearance in Wilkin County District Court on Monday.
Myron Johanson, 26, was formally charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter related to the death of 22-year-old Jorden Boehm, of West Fargo and New Rockford, N.D., in the early morning hours of Jan. 1, during a party at Johanson’s Wolverton home at 1772 U.S. 75 in the Red River Valley.
Court records said approximately 10 people were at the gathering, at which witnesses told investigators “everyone was getting along and having a good time throughout the evening.” During the party, witnesses said Johanson carried around a black handgun in a holster, at times taking it out and “playing with it and pointing it at others in the house, and leaving it lie out on the table.”
Before the fatal shooting took place, one witness said she saw Johanson point the gun at one person’s face, only to have that person push it away. Johanson pointed the gun at another witness’s head and asked the person if they trusted him, to which the witness told investigators he responded, “(Expletive) no I don’t,” at which point Johanson laughed, and racked a round into the chamber, according to court documents.
Witnesses then saw Johanson walk up to Boehm and put the gun under his chin, again asking, “Do you trust me?” according to court documents.
“The next thing witnesses recalled was that the gun went off … (and) the victim bleeding from his neck,” an investigative report said. “One witness stated that he turned around to see the defendant holding the gun and saying, ‘Oh (expletive), call 911.’”
Johanson met sheriff’s deputies inside the home when they arrived at the scene, where he pointed them toward where Boehm’s body was lying in a pool of blood. He then showed the deputies where his gun was in his bedroom.
Johanson is being represented by Fargo defense attorney Luke Heck. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for Jan. 27 in Breckenridge.
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