Suspect Charged in Saturday Morning Shooting

A Mankato man was charged after a shooting left another man dead early Saturday morning. Guenther Boone Jr, age 18 of Mankato, was charged with I Felony count of 2nd Degree Murder With Intent – Not Premeditated, 1 Felony count of possessing a Firearm with No Serial Number, and 1 Gross Misdemeanor count of Carrying/Possessing a Pistol without a permit. The 2nd Degree Murder charge carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. The Firearm Possession charge carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison or a $10,000 fine or both.

According to the criminal complaint: On December 21, 2024, at approximately 3:13 AM, the Mankato Department of Public Safety was dispatched to a residence in Blue Earth County in response to a 911 call that someone was shot in the head. Officers arrived on scene and located the victim, who was deceased, in the passenger seat of a vehicle. The victim had suffered an apparent gunshot wound to the back of his head. A witness identified Boone as the individual that shot the victim. Boone was located by officers in his residence. Boone initially denied knowledge of anything going on outside his residence and did not know what happened. When confronted with the information officers had learned, Boone then admitted he shot the victim. Boone stated he shot him in the head “execution style”. Boone stated he saw the victim move his hand but did not know what he was doing so he shot the victim in the back of the head. Boone stated he did not see a gun, but he assumed the victim had one. Boone does not have a permit to carry a pistol. The investigation is ongoing.