ST CLOUD, Minn. - A 22-year-old man has struck a plea deal with Stearns County prosecutors in the death of a man he punched during a chance encounter on a St. Cloud street.
Travis Allen Johnson was originally charged with 2nd degree murder and 1st degree manslaughter in the August 2017 death of Anthony Shriver.
Investigators say Johnson punched Shriver in a St. Cloud street as the two crossed paths and exchanged words after bar close one night. Witnesses say Shriver was walking away when Johnson sucker-punched him.
Court documents say Shriver refused medical treatment at the scene, but was found unresponsive in a home nine hours later. First responders were unable to revive him.
Prosecutors dropped the murder charge against Johnson after he agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter. He is scheduled to be sentenced in December.
