Leslie Shawn Sanders, charged with the road rage death of 79-year-old Larry Myers, pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree murder.
Sanders, 53, of Faribault, was initially charged with first-degree assault following the June 27, 2022, incident, but those charges were later amended following Myers’ death nine days later.
In exchange for his guilty plea, the Rice County Attorney’s Office agreed to an executed sentence of 140 months in prison.
Myers, also of Faribault, was on his way to a dialysis appointment when Sanders cut him off in front of the Dundas Menards. He then assaulted Myers while Myers sat in his vehicle. Myers suffered serious bodily harm, including multiple facial fractures and a significant brain injury. When he later became unable to breathe on his own, doctors determined that his brain damage was too severe for him recover. The decision was made to terminate life support and Myers died as a result of his injuries.
The assault stemmed from an incident on Cannon City Boulevard near 154th Street E, about 3 miles southeast of Dundas where Sanders’ pickup passed the SUV driven by Myers, hitting it as he moved back into the northbound lane. The vehicles continued to the intersection of Hester Street and Schilling Drive in Dundas, where Sanders got out of his truck, approached Myers’ SUV and started punching Myers in the face.
Dundas Police Chief Todd Hanson, who was called to the scene, said several witnesses told him that they saw Sanders hit Myers several times and did not see Myers strike Sanders.
“We understand that no amount of prison time will ever be enough to make up for a lost loved one,” said Rice County Attorney Brian Mortenson. “We greatly appreciate the family’s cooperation, communication and understanding while the case has been pending.”
The victim’s family expressed their thanks, and acknowledged that although there is no good ending to this they are happy they can begin to move on.
Sentencing is set for 2 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Rice County Courthouse.
Contact:
Brian Mortenson, Rice County Attorney
[email protected]
507-332-6103
Suzy Rook, Communications Coordinator
[email protected]
507-384-6509