National Guard member charged in state park death
A Minnesota National Guard member is facing a second-degree murder charge in the death of a man this week at a state park in southern Minnesota.
According to a criminal complaint filed Thursday, David Michael Easter, 26, of Brownsdale called 911 from Myre-Big Island State Park near Albert Lea Tuesday evening and said he had shot a man in self-defense.
The complaint also says deputies interviewed Easter's wife, who told them her husband had confronted the victim, and heard the victim tell Easter to stop shining his light on him.
Assistant Freeborn County attorney David Walker doubts Easter's self defense claim. Walker said the victim was sitting in his car with the doors locked and the windows up when he was shot twice in the head.
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
"The decedent himself was seated in the driver's seat with his foot on the brake and the keys in the ignition," Walker said. "The vehicle was on and it was actually in gear, in reverse."
Walker said it's unclear if Easter and the victim knew each other. He said the victim's name was not included in the criminal complaint because investigators have not confirmed his identity.
Authorities say Easter has a gun permit from Nebraska, and the victim's car had Nebraska license plates.
In a statement, Minnesota National Guard spokesperson Maj. Scott Hawks said Easter is a private first class with the 2-136 Infantry Battalion based in Thief River Falls. Hawks said Easter began his military service in December 2012.
Hawks also said Easter's wife, Sgt. Karla Mae Easter, is a member of the Guard and serves with Charlie Company, 34th Infantry Division at its headquarters in Faribault.