St. Cloud Man Sentenced for Firing Gun at New Year’s Eve Party

(KNSI) – The man who fired a gun inside a house during a New Year’s Eve party in St. Cloud has been sentenced.

Willie Dumont White pleaded guilty to one count of threats of violence with reckless disregard. Under the plea agreement, the 44-year-old was released after spending around five months in jail awaiting trial. He was also given a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence, meaning he won’t have to spend any more time behind bars unless he violates the terms of his five-year probation.

According to court records, police were called to the home on the 2200 block of Clearwater Road in St. Cloud on December 31st, 2024, just before midnight, for a report of gunshots.

When they arrived, they found a girl outside in her pajamas who appeared to be having a panic attack. She was so distraught at one point that she got sick and told police she couldn’t go back into the house because people were arguing and she was afraid.

Investigators say White sprayed partygoers with champagne, which led to a fight. At one point, White went to a back bedroom and grabbed a handgun. Several people were wrestling him to the ground when he fired twice. That’s when people started grabbing their kids and taking off. Kids also jumped out of windows on the second floor, trying to escape.

During a search of the house, they allegedly found a bullet hole in the ceiling, a bullet hole in the headboard of a bed, two casings, and a black Springfield XD 9mm, which was stolen out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Police also say White smelled strongly of alcohol.

White has numerous convictions on his record, including assault, domestic assault and drug violations, which means he is not allowed to have a gun.

___