St. Paul Man Pleads Guilty to Murder Charges After Fatal Punch

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) – A St. Paul resident, Darren Duffie, has entered a guilty plea after being charged with murder for causing the death of another man with a single punch.

Ramsey County prosecutors filed the charge of unintentional second-degree murder while committing a felony against 29-year-old Darren Duffie in September. The incident occurred on July 23, 2023, when Duffie allegedly attacked 43-year-old Richard McFee, resulting in his untimely demise.

In a recent court filing, Duffie opted for a straight guilty plea, which means there was no plea agreement presented by the prosecutors.

Details of the Incident

According to the criminal complaint, law enforcement authorities received a report regarding an unconscious man near the train platform situated at the intersection of Fifth Street East and Minnesota Street. Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered Richard McFee lying on the ground with no visible injuries. He was immediately transported to Regions Hospital, where medical professionals determined that he had sustained a severe brain bleed, categorized as “non-survivable injuries.”

Despite being placed on life support, McFee was pronounced brain dead on July 25 and subsequently taken off life support the following day. The medical examiner’s report confirmed that McFee’s cause of death was a homicide, attributing it to a closed head injury resulting from an assault.

Surveillance Video Provides Key Evidence

Investigators carefully reviewed surveillance footage capturing the incident, which clearly showed Darren Duffie approaching Richard McFee from behind and delivering a forceful blow to the left side of his head.

During questioning, Duffie admitted knowing the victim and claimed that he attacked him in retaliation for McFee allegedly assaulting a female friend of his. The motive behind the assault appears to be a personal vendetta.

Previous Criminal History

Court records reveal that at the time of the attack, Darren Duffie was already on probation for terroristic threats stemming from a previous encounter with law enforcement in 2021.

Sentencing and Potential Punishment

Darren Duffie is set to be sentenced on February 9, 2024. Under Minnesota law, he could face a maximum prison term of up to 40 years for the second-degree murder charge.