On March 1, 2026, at approximately 8:40 A.M., Saint Paul Officers responded to a call where a victim was struck with a machete on the 1300 block of Forest Street, Saint Paul, County of Ramsey. Officer Mercado arrived and met twelve-year-old female W1, who was crying. In the kitchen, there were blood drops on the kitchen floor. W1 pointed to a machete inside a mop bucket on the kitchen floor that was used when her brother-later identified as DEAN JAMES JOHNSON, [DOB REDACTED]-and her mother’s boyfriend-EI-fought.
EI was seated on the couch. EI had blood all over and a large laceration on the top of his head. EI held a towel that was soaked in blood over the laceration. Medics were called and transported EI to Regions Hospital. W1’s Statements W1 said JOHNSON and EI argued because EI and her mother-RB-argued about the baby getting fed a bottle. JOHNSON heard them arguing, went into the living room, and yelled at EI for raising his voice at his mother. JOHNSON and EI yelled at each other. JOHNSON went into his room, grabbed his machete that he keeps by his bed, went back to the living room holding the machete, and struck EI with it.
They fought one another. RB tried to get in the middle to stop the fight. When she saw blood, W1 became afraid and called 911. JOHNSON and EI continued to fight over the machete, and went into the hallway. At one point, EI grabbed a BB gun and pumped it. W1 was scared so she grabbed the baby from the living room and went back to her room. As she tried to get to her room, JOHNSON charged EI, bumping her and causing her to fall to the floor while holding the baby. JOHNSON left the house with the machete.
When he returned, he put the machete in the kitchen. W2’s Statements: Fourteen-year-old W2 said she was in her bedroom when she heard her mother arguing with EI (referred to as XXXXX). EI lives at the address and is her mom’s boyfriend and child’s father. W2 went to check on her mother. JOHNSON and EI got in each other’s faces and argued. Her mom, RB, tried to separate them. EI kept yelling at JOHNSON to do something. JOHNSON went into his bedroom, grabbed a large knife out of his closet, went back into the living room, and the argument continued.
W2 hid in her closet and called 911. EI’s Statements At Regions Hospital, EI spoke to Officer Mercado. EI had multiple lacerations on his head, neck, and hands that required sutures. EI said he woke up in the morning because his baby was crying. He and his girlfriend-RB-discussed getting the baby a bottle. The argument was not heated. EI went upstairs to grab the bottle for the baby. RB’s son, JOHNSON, followed him up the stairs and yelled at him about the bottle and the way he spoke to his mother.
He told JOHNSON to mind his own business and to get away from him. EI went back downstairs, picked up his baby, and was going to feed her. JOHNSON continued to follow him and yell at him. EI told him to get away from him. JOHNSON responded, “You’re going to die today.” EI asked him how he was going to “make that happen.” JOHNSON left the living room, went to his bedroom, returned with a machete, pushed past RB, and walked toward him with the machete. JOHNSON swung the machete and struck him on the top of the head.
