Michael Lual Nhial, a 21-year-old resident of Burnsville, faces a second-degree intentional murder charge after the alleged killing of David Stuart Chant, a Faribault man, in a Burnsville park. Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena announced the charge, noting that a complaint warrant had been issued.
On the morning of May 3, 2025, Burnsville officers were called to Interlachen Park when Chant's mother discovered her unresponsive 59-year-old son. According to the official news release, Chant was found beneath a picnic table with visible head injuries and nearby, two damaged walking sticks that he used due to medical conditions were discovered.
Further through the investigation, a pair of blood-stained shoes were located in a porta-potty within the park, and the blood was later confirmed through DNA testing to belong to Chant. Around the time of the incident, Nhial was reported missing by his mother, who expressed concern for his well-being due to a history of aggressive behavior and household conflicts. Police had previous engagements with Nhial, having been to his home multiple times before.
Video evidence obtained through the investigation revealed Nhial wandering the apartment complex's garage at around 12:19 a.m., and at 1:43 a.m. a recording captured near the park evidenced a heated exchange, and sounds consistent with a physical altercation, "Give me my cane back," followed by thuds, slaps, and a slamming door, presumably of the porta-potty where the shoes were found. An autopsy later determined the cause of death for Chant as blunt force trauma to the head, the case being ruled as homicide.
Nhial, who had other charges pending and was also recently civilly committed due to mental illness, is awaiting placement at the Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Facility. As the law establishes, a criminal charge is not proof of guilt, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. County Attorney Keena has extended appreciation to the Burnsville Police Department for their work and thorough investigation into this tragic incident,t which has now progressed to the courts for a final determination of justice. The details of the criminal complaint can be reviewed by the public for a comprehensive understanding of the facts at hand.
