In the early, dark hours of a Saturday morning in Mankato, Minnesota, the life of Darious Dashon Johnson, a 31-year-old Black/African American male, was tragically cut short. On December 21, 2024, Johnson and a friend drove to a residence on the 500 block of East Walnut Street for what was supposed to be a transaction for THC vape cartridges. The arranged meeting took a fatal turn when 18-year-old Guenther Boone Jr. entered the back seat of their vehicle.
Johnson reportedly questioned Boone about a gun he was holding, and moments later, a single shot was fired. The driver, Johnson's friend, sped away from the scene, coming to a stop about a mile away near Grove Street and South 2nd Street. It was there that police, responding to a call around 3:15 a.m., found Johnson inside the vehicle, already deceased from a gunshot wound.
The investigation quickly led authorities to Boone, who was taken into custody later that same day following the execution of a search warrant at his home. Initially, Boone denied any part in the killing. However, as investigators from the Mankato Police Department and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension presented him with evidence, including surveillance footage and witness statements, his story changed. Boone eventually admitted to the shooting, describing it as an "execution-style" killing. He confessed that his plan had been to rob Johnson and his friend of the cartridges. Boone claimed he saw Johnson move his hand and, believing he was reaching for a weapon, fired the shot, though he admitted he never actually saw a gun in Johnson's possession. He also stated that he attempted to fire a second time, but the gun jammed. A handgun, which a witness said belonged to Johnson, was later found in the vehicle's center console. The weapon Boone used was one he claimed Johnson himself had previously sold to him.
Following his confession, Guenther Boone Jr. was charged with second-degree murder and illegal firearm possession. In the subsequent months, the case moved through the legal system. Boone, who expressed that he "didn't mean to take him from his children," ultimately pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree intentional but unpremeditated murder. As a result of a plea agreement, other charges were dismissed. He was sentenced to serve more than 30 years in prison for the shooting death of Darious Johnson. The tragedy left Johnson's wife, eight children, and a wide circle of family and friends to mourn a man they remembered for his dedication to family, his passion for music, and his infectious laughter.
