In the early morning hours of December 30, 2022, the life of Kenny C. Javar, a 36-year-old male of Asian descent, was tragically cut short in Minot, North Dakota. The incident unfolded in the parking lot of the Lamplighter Lounge, where Javar sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses at the scene, patrons of the bar, took immediate action.
One individual managed to disarm the shooter, and with the help of another, they detained the suspect until law enforcement arrived. The Minot Police Department responded to reports of gunshots at approximately 1:40 a.m.
The individual taken into custody was identified as 35-year-old Justin Charles McDermott of Minot. He was subsequently arrested and charged with the murder of Javar. In a turn of events that brought a swifter conclusion to the legal proceedings, McDermott later pleaded guilty to the shooting.
In February 2024, Justin Charles McDermott was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the murder of Kenny Javar. During the sentencing, the judge emphasized that such violent behavior would not be tolerated in the community. Javar's death was noted as the first of three shootings to occur at Minot bars within a five-month period.
