Crime & Safety

Burnsville Man Pleads Guilty to Murder in the Second-degree

Robert Michael Thomas, 47, pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree manslaughter. In January Thomas was charged with the shooting death of James Edward Koenig.

Today, a 47-year-old Burnsville man pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of James Edward Koenig, age 38, a guest at his home. Koenig was shot to death on Jan. 23 of this year, after a confrontation with Robert Michael Thomas, a 47-year-old Burnsville resident.

“This was a senseless shooting death which should never have occurred,” Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said in a press release.  

Koenig was one of several friends who came over to watch a football game at Thomas' house. A fight erupted after Thomas found shirtless photos of Koenig on his 13-year-old son's camera. A fight ensued. It ended when Thomas pulled a shotgun on Koenig and blasted him in the chest.

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By the time emergency responders arrived, Koenig was dead. 
A grand jury indicted Thomas on four felony counts on February 25, 2011: Murder in the Second Degree, Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Intentional Discharge of a Firearm and Reckless Discharge of a Firearm in a Municipality.

On Wednesday, Thomas pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter. He will be sentenced on Oct. 27. 

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