Minnesota Man Accused of Laughing After Fatally Shooting Partygoer in the Back Just Moments After Meeting Him
HIBBING, MINNESOTA — A Minnesota man wearing a Deadpool sweatshirt has been charged with murder after police say he shot a man he’d just met at a party, then laughed while talking to investigators about the killing.
According to the Hibbing Police Department, 30-year-old Daniel James Dale is charged with intentional second-degree murder for the death of 24-year-old Parker Charles Johnson. Authorities said Dale shot Johnson multiple times — once in the face and twice in the back — before returning to the party and pretending nothing had happened.
Shooting at Apartment Complex Party
The fatal encounter took place around 2:16 a.m. Sunday at the Meadowview Apartments in the 5300 block of 9th Avenue West. Officers responded to multiple 911 calls about gunfire and found Johnson lying on the ground in the parking lot with a gunshot wound to the chest.
A shotgun was discovered near Johnson’s body, along with 9 mm shell casings. Despite emergency responders’ efforts, Johnson died at the scene.
Witnesses told police that a man wearing a Deadpool hoodie was seen firing a handgun near the parking lot moments earlier, with one witness believing he was just “drunk and shooting into the woods.” That same man — later identified as Dale — was seen back at the party shortly after the gunfire.
“You Want to See Something Funny”
During questioning, Dale initially laughed multiple times and denied knowing the victim. He claimed he was inside the building during the shooting and had “never seen the guy before.”
However, surveillance footage later showed Dale wearing the same Deadpool sweatshirt seen by witnesses, which he removed just before police arrived.
When detectives pressed further, Dale admitted to owning a 9 mm handgun but refused to surrender it for testing, saying:
“No, I am not comfortable giving up my private property — especially a gun that I am responsible for.”
Confession and Contradictions
After being informed about Minnesota’s self-defense laws, Dale allegedly confessed to the shooting, telling officers:
“Yes, I f—ing shot him, and it’s been eating away at me all f—ing night.”
He claimed the victim, whom he described as “some white boy at the party,” had led him outside after saying, “You want to see something funny.” Dale told police Johnson then retrieved a long gun from his car and pointed it at him, prompting Dale to draw his handgun and fire three times.
But evidence contradicted his story. Security footage revealed Dale waited six seconds between shots, and the final two bullets struck Johnson in the back, showing the victim was turned away when he was killed.
After the shooting, Dale said he went back to the party and tried not to “freak out.” He later admitted,
“When I saw where my bullets hit, I knew he was f—ed. I stood over him, looked down, and didn’t want my DNA on the situation.”
Charges and Next Court Date
Dale is being held without bond at the St. Louis County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on November 17.
Prosecutors say the evidence — including surveillance footage, witness statements, and ballistics — shows the killing was intentional, not defensive.
If convicted, Dale faces up to 40 years in prison.
What do you think — was this self-defense or a cold-blooded act of violence? Share your thoughts in the comments and follow more breaking stories on ChicagoMusicGuide.com.