Joe Ditthideth, 25, of St. Cloud, Minnesota, was fatally shot on February 16, 2018, in Sauk Rapids. The incident also resulted in the wounding of Nathan Phrachomphonh, 29, who was expected to recover from his injuries^1^. The shooting occurred at 3466 Old Creek Place, but Ditthideth and Phrachomphonh were found in a vehicle on Benton County Road 29 near the U.S. Highway 10 overpass, being driven to the hospital by a third party^1^.
The driver was questioned by police and determined not to be involved in the shootings^1^.
The investigation revealed that Ditthideth and Phrachomphonh had met with friends at Checkers Bar in St. Paul earlier that night. Tensions rose between Ditthideth's group and another group at the bar, leading to the fatal shooting hours later^2^. Witnesses testified that William Demont White Jr., 21, of St. Cloud, and Nokomis Lee Jefferson, 27, of Chicago, were involved in the shooting^2^. Both White and Jefferson faced charges of murder, arson, and crimes for the benefit of a gang^2^.
During the trial, Rusty Phettnongdy, a friend of Ditthideth, testified about the events leading up to the shooting. He mentioned that he had met Ditthideth and Phrachomphonh at Ditthideth's birthday party the previous December^2^. On the night of the shooting, Phettnongdy was outside the bar when Ditthideth parked near the entrance. After being informed about security checks for weapons, two men from Ditthideth's group returned to the car to drop something off^2^. Later, tensions escalated, and the group left the bar before the situation could worsen^2^.
Phillip Hanson, a resident near Old Creek Place, testified that he was awakened by gunshots early on February 16. He found Phrachomphonh on the ground outside his garage, asking for an ambulance^2^. Hanson and his fiancée helped load Ditthideth and Phrachomphonh into their car and began driving them to the hospital before being stopped by a deputy^2^. The trial for White and Jefferson was scheduled to last until Friday^2^.
