Minnesota – In a recent court proceeding, a 35-year-old Minnesota man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the death of his friend, 41-year-old Bryan. The plea agreement includes a proposed sentence of 25 years in prison, with formal sentencing scheduled for next month.
On May 31, 2022, at approximately 12:30 a.m., the defendant, later identified as Codi, contacted emergency dispatchers, reporting that a man was deceased and requesting law enforcement assistance. He urged dispatchers to put the handcuffs on him.
Upon arrival at the residence in Minnesota, deputies found the shooter lying face-down on the lawn, holding a phone. He informed the responding deputies that ‘he shot him in the head and that he’s going to jail.’ Inside the home, deputies discovered the victim deceased in his bedroom with a gunshot wound to the neck. Evidence indicated a shotgun bIast, including a hole in the wall consistent with such a discharge.
The defendant disclosed to investigators that he had been experiencing significant stress and had consumed a substantial amount of drugs. He mentioned that ‘someone had told him that either he or the victim needed to die by midnight’. Acting on this, the shooter retrieved a semi-automatic shotgun from an unlocked cabinet, entered the victim’s bedroom, and fired twice—one shot striking the victim and the other hitting the wall.
Initially charged with second-degree murder, he was later indicted by a grand jury on additional charges of first-degree murder on June 29, 2022. The first-degree murder charge, which carries a potential life sentence without the possibility of release, will be dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
He has a prior history of legal issues, including convictions for driving while intoxicated and drug possession.He was also civilly committed in 2019 for a period of six months, with an extension of an additional three months.
The plea agreement brings a resolution to the tragic incident that resulted in the death of 41-year-old Bryan. The defendant’s sentencing is anticipated to provide a measure of closure to the community and the victim’s family.