A Minnesota man, aged 30, finds himself behind bars after allegedly fatally shooting a 24-year-old at a party shortly after their initial encounter in the parking lot of an apartment complex. The accused reportedly shot the victim in both the face and back, later misleading law enforcement about his role before confessing under the guise of self-defense.

Identified as Daniel James Dale, he was apprehended on Wednesday and now faces charges of intentional second-degree murder in connection with the death of Parker Charles Johnson, as confirmed by official records.

The Hibbing Police Department reported that officers were called to the Meadowview Apartments, situated on the 5300 block of 9th Avenue West, around 2:16 a.m. on Sunday. The call was regarding gunfire in the parking area. Upon their arrival, they discovered an adult male, later identified as Johnson, lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to his chest.

Authorities found a shotgun near Johnson’s body, along with several spent 9 mm cartridge casings scattered nearby.

Despite the efforts of emergency medical personnel to revive him, Johnson was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Following a preliminary investigation, authorities said they identified Dale as the suspected shooter, taking him into custody late Sunday afternoon.

A copy of the probable cause affidavit obtained by the Duluth News Tribune provided additional details about the allegations against Dale.

According to the report, a witness told police they were in the parking lot and saw a man wearing a Deadpool sweatshirt fire a handgun three times. The witness reportedly said he believed the man was just drunk and firing random shots into the nearby woods. After seeing the shots fired, the witness said he saw the same man in the Deadpool sweatshirt at the party in the apartment complex, Northern News Now reported.

In his initial statement to police, Dale reportedly said he was inside the building when the shots were fired and was not sure if he had ever seen the victim before. Dale laughed several times during his interactions with officers, police noted.

However, surveillance footage showed Dale wearing a Deadpool sweatshirt that he took off shortly after police arrived.

After being identified as the potential shooter, police brought Dale in for a second interview. Dale reportedly confirmed to police that he owned a 9 mm handgun, but initially claimed he had not fired it for several months. He then revised his claim, allegedly saying he had fired it within the last week.

When asked if he would turn his gun over to police for a forensic analysis, Dale declined.

“No, I am not comfortable giving up my private property,” he said, per the Duluth News Tribune. “Especially a gun that I am responsible for, to police or otherwise.”

Dale allegedly confessed to the shooting after police informed him that Minnesota had a self-defense law.

“We are going to stop. I am going to say, yes, I shot him,” Dale told detectives, per News Now. “Yes, I f—ing shot him, and it has been eating away at me all f—ing night.”

Dale claimed Johnson, whom he described as “some white boy at the party,” approached him and asked if he “wanted to see something funny” before leading him out to the parking lot. Dale said Johnson then went to his car, grabbed a long gun, and pointed it at Dale. In response, Dale said he drew his handgun and fired three times.

After the shooting, Dale said he went back to the party and tried not to “freak out” rather than attempting to render aid to Johnson.

“When I saw where my bullets hit, I knew he was f—ed,” Dale reportedly said. “I stood over him. I looked down at him. I did not want my hand, like my DNA on the situation.”

Dale also reportedly claimed to have just met Johnson.

“I don’t even know the f—ing name,” he said. “I just know it was some white country bumpkin. Just some dude that said, ‘You want to see something funny?’”

But security footage reportedly showed that Dale waited six seconds after firing the first shot before he fired the second and third shots. Additionally, the first shot struck Johnson in the face while the final two shots were fired into his back, meaning Johnson was facing away from Dale after being hit with the first shot.

Dale is currently being held in the St. Louis County Jail without bond. He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 17.