Michael Lual Nhial, 21 of Burnsville, was charged* today by a complaint warrant with one count of second-degree intentional murder in connection with the death of David Stuart Chant of Faribault, Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena announced.
According to court documents, on May 3, 2025, at approximately 8:10 a.m., Burnsville officers received a call from the mother of Chant, who found her 59-year-old son unresponsive and unconscious at Interlachen Park.
Chant's mother told officers that her son would occasionally stay with her and go for early morning walks either in the driveway or at nearby Interlachen Park. When he was not in the home or the driveway that morning, she walked to the park to find him.
Chant was found on the ground, partially under a picnic table with blood around his head. He had swelling to the head, mouth and eyes, and was cold to the touch. Officers and medical providers arrived within minutes and performed life-saving care but he was declared deceased. Two broken and bent walking sticks that Chant used for medical purposes were found near his body.
Officers searched the park and the surrounding area and found a pair of shoes in a porta-potty. Blood was present on one of the shoes. After further DNA testing, the blood was determined to belong to Chant.
Later that morning at 8:43 a.m., Nhial's mother contacted Burnsville police. She said Nhial was missing and she was concerned about his well-being. Nhial and his mother lived in an apartment close to the park. She told officers that Nhial had been fighting with people at school and had become increasingly aggressive at home. Police were familiar with Nhial as they had been called to his home multiple times prior.
During the investigation, officers obtained multiple surveillance video footage. A video from 12:19 a.m. shows Nhial walking around the underground garage of his apartment complex. The shoes he was wearing were a similar style and color to the ones found in the porta-potty. Another video from 1:43 a.m., captured audio from the area of the park. Two distinct voices were heard arguing as well as thumping sounds. The voice alleged to be the victims was heard saying, “Give me my cane back," followed by sounds of hitting, slapping and continued arguing. The same voice repeatedly shouted “Ow." Then a slamming door is heard, consistent with the slamming of a porta-potty door.
An autopsy was performed by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the victim's head and the manner of death was ruled to be homicide.
Nhial is currently being held at the Dakota County Jail on charges not related to this case. He was also recently civilly committed due to mental illness and is pending placement at the Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Facility.
County Attorney Keena thanked the Burnsville Police Department for their partnership and thorough investigation of this incident.
A summary of the facts pertaining to this case can be found in the criminal complaint at Criminal Complaint Search.
*Criminal charges are not evidence of guilt. A defendant/suspect is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.