Medina Man Pleads Guilty To Attacking Deputy With Machete
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Officials in Hennepin County said Thursday that a Medina man has pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder for attacking a sheriff's deputy last December with a machete.
Donald Kalib John Nichols, 24, made a Norgaard plea, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office said. That's a procedure that allows Nichols to plead guilty even though he doesn't recall what happened on December 4.
Police said that on that afternoon Nichols attacked sheriff's deputy Brett Bukkila with a machete. Bukkila and other deputies had been called to a hotel after Nichols' parents alerted authorities that their son was suicidal.
Responding police found Nichols in a wooded area near the 2300 block of Highway 55. He was wearing body armor, a helmet and carrying a machete. Police said he spoke of "suicide by cop," and they ordered him to drop the knife and put his hands up.
When he refused, one officer shot Nichols with a Taser. After that, Nicholas attacked Bukkila with the machete, and another officer shot him.
Nichols is slated to be sentenced on July 10. Prosecutors say they are seeking a prison sentence of about 12 years.
