Apple Valley Man Charged In Fatal Shooting
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A 22-year-old Apple Valley man has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting that took place in Burnsville Saturday.
Derrick Wallace Dahl faces one count each of manslaughter, reckless discharge of a firearm, intentionally pointing a gun at another and recklessly handling a gun in the shooting that killed 22-year-old Benjamin Allen Hanson of Welch, Minn.
According to the charges, Dahl and his friends, including Hanson, were cleaning several handguns. Apparently thinking it was unloaded, Dahl cocked a 45-caliber semi-automatic handgun, pointed it at Hanson's head and pulled the trigger. The gun discharged and Hanson was shot in the head.
He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he died the following day.
Dahl told police that was the first time he's ever handled a gun and admitted that he didn't know a lot about them. Dahl said it was an accident and that he didn't know the gun was loaded.
Dahl made his first court appearance Tuesday. His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 15.
