Burnsville Man Charged with Second-Degree Murder in Park Death

Michael Lual Nhial, a 21-year-old man from Burnsville, has been charged with second-degree intentional murder in connection with the May 3, 2025, death of 59-year-old David Stuart Chant, who was found beaten and unresponsive at Interlachen Park. The victim died from blunt force trauma to the head, with investigators finding a pair of blood-stained shoes linked to Nhial near the crime scene. Nhial, a former college basketball player dismissed from his team due to aggressive behavior, has a history of erratic conduct, including multiple criminal cases and a recent civil commitment for mental illness. Surveillance footage captured Nhial around the park during the early morning hours and audio of a violent altercation involving demands for a cane, which Chant used for walking. Nhial was recorded in jail admitting to assaulting a man in the park, and police had prior encounters with him related to property damage and assault. Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case, which has drawn public attention and requests for security footage from the community.