Murder charge: Man, 34, stabbed 29 times during fight over eviction

Murder charges were filed Monday against one man who allegedly stabbed another 29 times over the weekend in Minneapolis and was hospitalized with injuries of his own.

David L. Hall III, 47, of Minneapolis, was charged in Hennepin County District Court with second-degree murder in connection with the attack that occurred about 12:20 a.m. Sunday outside his home in the 1900 block of Newton Avenue N., according to police.

Officers called to the scene came upon 34-year-old Billy Nunley down on the grass near the curb with several stab wounds, police said. They gave aid to Nunley, as did paramedics, but he was pronounced dead.

A bleeding Hall was arrested at the scene and taken to North Memorial Medical Center, police said. He was booked into jail Sunday night and remains held in lieu of $1 million bail ahead of a court appearance Wednesday.

Hall's criminal history in Minnesota includes two assault convictions, along with three convictions for drunken driving and one each for theft, passing a bad check and a weapons violation.

According to the criminal complaint:

Witnesses told officers that Hall was drunk and "had been hostile and assaultive toward several neighbors that evening," the charging document read. Hall assaulted one neighbor and threatened to kill another.

Blood was found in the grass in the yard and leading to the curb. The front door was smeared with blood, and officers discovered two large kitchen knives with blood on them inside the home.

"Officers learned the victim had approximately 29 stab wounds to his body," the complaint continued.

Hall had injuries to an arm and the back of his head. While being taken to North Memorial, he volunteered that he fought with Nunley and knives were involved.

Later, under questioning by police, Hall said Nunley had a knife in his back pocket. He said he armed himself with a knife, cursed at Nunley and ordered him to leave.

Hall contended that Nunley lunged at him with a knife and inflicted injuries. He said he picked up Nunley's knife after it was dropped. Hall said he then used two knives to stab Nunley.