A St. Paul man who attacked and killed another man with a tire iron has been sentenced to more than ten years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder.
Daniel Moua, 20, pled guilty this week to killing 54-year-old James Thurber in July 2025.
According to investigations, officers were called to the 600 block of Hyacinth Avenue, where they discovered an unconscious guy on the ground bleeding “profusely” from his head.
Officers stated that Moua was standing over Thurber as another man attempted to interfere. That individual informed authorities that he did not witness what happened, but that Moua and the victim used to do “scrapping” together and had a falling out.
A 911 caller reported witnessing someone assault the victim, smack him in the head with a cane-like device, then retreat into a garage before returning to stand beside him.
Moua claimed he discovered the body on the ground after stepping away to bring his dog inside.
However, investigators uncovered a blood-stained tire iron placed inside a plastic bag. Moua’s relatives eventually identified the tool as his, noting that he always kept it in his van.
Moua was sentenced to 128 months in prison and given credit for 283 days served.
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