Trial Underway for Third Man Charged In Nightclub Killing In St. Cloud

(KNSI) – Trial begins for a third man accused of murdering a man at the Red Carpet Nightclub in St. Cloud in December 2019.

Bryant Jerome Stephenson has been charged with 2nd-degree murder for his part in allegedly stabbing 29-year-old Unity McGill to death. The Buffalo man’s trial is scheduled to last two weeks.

Stearns County Jail

Two other men have already been convicted and sentenced for their part in McGill’s death. Twentynine-year-old Christopher Lamar Johnson was convicted in March and sentenced to 40 years in prison last month. His brother, 30-year-old Lawrence Michael Johnson, pleaded guilty to murder charges in October of 2020 and was sentenced to 34 years in prison in March.

According to the criminal complaint, surveillance video showed a fight around 1 a.m. when witnesses say the three assaulted an unidentified man with McGill standing nearby. Lawrence Johnson is then seen hitting McGill and McGill fighting back. Christopher Johnson then attacks McGill, who again is seen fighting back.

Security personnel then escorted Stephenson, Christopher Johnson, Lawrence Johnson, and another assault victim out of the club while McGill remained inside. The criminal complaint states that Christopher Johnson and Lawrence Johnson re-entered the club about 1:15 a.m., with Stephenson entering a short time later.

Investigators say Stephenson was seen on surveillance video entering the dance floor at 1:22 a.m. and moving around to McGill. Christopher Johnson and Lawrence Johnson approach McGill from different directions, with Christopher coming from the front and Lawrence approaching from behind.

McGill was knocked to the ground and attacked. Security personnel broke up the fight a short time later. Even after the fight was broken up, police say, Christopher Johnson, Lawrence Johnson, and Stephenson allegedly punched and kicked McGill.

McGill is seen trying to leave the Red Carpet but collapsed in the main entry. Police say the three men continued to kick him in the head before fleeing on foot. McGill was rushed to the St. Cloud Hospital, where he died.

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