Suspect in Myre-Big Island shooting posts bail Friday
Published 8:03 am Sunday, September 25, 2016
ALBERT LEA — The Brownsdale man charged with murder in last month’s fatal shooting at Myre-Big Island State Park posted bail Friday.David Michael Easter, 26, is charged with second-degree murder in the Aug. 23 shooting death of Spencer Daniel Brown, 23, of rural Freeborn County.
District Court Judge Steven Schwab on Wednesday reduced conditional bail for Easter to $100,000 because of Easter’s financial status, lack of criminal history and having never fled to avoid prosecution.
Authorities have stated Brown was found dead in a locked 2001 Audi station wagon the evening of Aug. 23 in a parking lot near the Big Island pavilion after dispatchers received a 911 call from Easter.
Easter reportedly told dispatchers he had shot Brown in self-defense and claimed Brown approached him with what appeared to be a bat. Authorities stated last month that evidence does not show the shooting was in self-defense. Easter’s next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.
Second-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. Pending no criminal record is found, Easter faces a presumptive sentence of more than 25 years in prison.