WOLVERTON, MN – A joyful New Year’s celebration in a quiet Minnesota town unraveled into tragedy when a party host’s reckless actions left one man dead just hours after midnight.
Authorities in Wilkin County were called to a home along Highway 77, just outside Wolverton, shortly before 1 a.m. Thursday, following reports of a shooting. Responders arrived to find 22-year-old Jorden Boehm suffering a critical gunshot wound to the neck, his life slipping away as stunned partygoers looked on. Paramedics pronounced Boehm dead at the scene.
According to investigators, the gathering started on a lighthearted note, with around ten friends coming together to welcome the new year. But witnesses said Myron Johanson, 26, who hosted the event, introduced a chilling element into the celebration by brandishing a firearm throughout the night.
Party guests recalled that Johanson repeatedly handled the weapon, provoking anxiety and urging others to play along with his dangerous antics. At one point, he approached another attendee, unloaded the weapon’s magazine in front of him, pointed the gun at the individual’s head, and asked, “Do you trust me?” That guest, unnerved by the display, refused to comply and forcefully pushed the firearm away.
The festive mood quickly soured as Johanson reinserted the magazine, chambered a round, and turned his attention toward Boehm. Witnesses described how Johanson pressed the gun beneath Boehm’s neck and ominously repeated the question: “Do you trust me?” In an instant, a shot was fired, and Boehm collapsed.
As the realization of the gravity of his actions set in, Johanson reportedly uttered a profanity and urged others to call for help. In the moments that followed, he is said to have secured the weapon and then contacted emergency services himself.
When questioned by authorities, Johanson told deputies the shooting was an accident, according to court documents. He was taken into custody at the scene and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. He remains in the Wilkin County Jail without bond as the investigation continues.
Officials have not yet provided details about whether alcohol or other substances played a role in the incident, or about the precise sequence leading up to the fatal shot.
The close-knit community is grappling with the loss of Boehm, who was remembered by family as a compassionate and cheerful young man eager to lend a hand to those in need. Friends and relatives mourn a promising life cut short by a senseless act, hoping for answers as legal proceedings move forward.
Authorities are urging anyone with additional information about the incident to come forward as they piece together the final moments of the ill-fated party. Funeral arrangements for Boehm are pending.
No additional injuries were reported in connection with the shooting. The case remains under active investigation.