Second Suspect Pleads Guilty In Deadly New Hope Bar Assault
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A second suspect has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a June 2014 fight outside a New Hope bar that left a man dead, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Tuesday.
Daniele Wright, 27, pleaded guilty to manslaughter as a result of misdemeanor assault in connection with the case. He will be sentenced on Dec. 7 and could receive more than six years in jail. Wright admitted in court that he had been drinking heavily the night he punched John Hillstrom, 36 of Crystal, outside the Outtakes Bar and Grill in New Hope.
Wright had originally been charged with second-degree unintentional murder.
According to court documents, Hillstrom was at the bar with his friends on the night of June 13, 2014. At about 1 a.m., words were exchanged between Hillstrom, Christopher Gantt and Wright outside the bar. A bartender told Hillstrom to go back inside and let the other two men leave.
But Gantt and Wright came back to where Hillstrom was standing with the bartender. Gantt punched him in the face, which knocked him down. Hillstrom got back up and then Wright punched him, putting him on the pavement and he hit his head.
On Nov. 30, 2014, Hillstrom died from his injuries. Gantt was found guilty of misdemeanor assault and sentenced to probation as well as 90 days in the Hennepin County workhouse.