Last Man Convicted in Fatal Stabbing at St. Cloud Nightclub is Sentenced

(KNSI) – The last of three men convicted of stabbing a man to death at a nightclub in St. Cloud has been sentenced. On Monday, a Stearns County Judge sentenced Bryant Stephenson to 40 years in prison for his role in the death of Unity McGill at the Red Carpet Nightclub in December of 2019. The 29-year-old Buffalo man was given credit for 694 days in jail.

Stephenson was convicted by a Stearns County Jury in August of two counts of 2nd-degree murder. Two other men were convicted and sentenced for their part in McGill’s death earlier this year.

Jake Judd (KNSI News)

Twenty-nine-year-old Christopher Lamar Johnson was convicted in March and sentenced to 40 years in prison in June. 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, witnesses say the three assaulted an unidentified man with McGill standing nearby. Lawrence Johnson is then seen on video, 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 with Stephenson entering a short time later.

Investigators say Stephenson was seen on surveillance video entering the dance floor 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 collapses 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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