3 plead guilty for roles in June 2023 fatal stabbing in Bemidji

Mar. 5—BEMIDJI — Three men involved in the fatal stabbing of an 18-year-old Bemidji man recently pleaded guilty to their roles in the June 2023 incident.

According to a release from Beltrami County Attorney David Hanson, 21-year-old Daniel Keezer, of Mahnomen, pleaded guilty Tuesday, March 4, to a charge of second-degree murder for the

death of 18-year-old Andrew Fisher.

Keezer's brother, Robert Keezer, and their associate James Burnette also pleaded guilty to charges of aiding and abetting an aggravated robbery.

In the early morning hours of June 24, 2023, the Bemidji Police Department responded to reports of a physical altercation between several people along Minnesota Court near J.W. Smith Elementary.

Upon arrival, officers observed a man lying on the ground, according to the initial release. The victim, later identified as Fisher, was bleeding profusely from multiple puncture wounds throughout his torso and was not breathing.

First responders arrived at the scene, and Fisher was pronounced dead.

After a thorough investigation, the Bemidji Police Department, with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, learned that Daniel Keezer, Robert Keezer and Burnette had lured Fisher via text messages to a house on Minnesota Court with the intent to rob him.

Robert Keezer and Burnette admitted in open court that they both aided in robbing Fisher, the release said. Daniel Keezer admitted that he had a knife on him during the robbery and that he stabbed Fisher multiple times, causing his death.

In the release, Hanson said his office intends to seek a sentence of 35 years for Daniel Keezer, along with 15-year sentences for both Robert Keezer and James Burnette.

Robert Keezer and Burnette will be sentenced March 25, and Daniel Keezer's sentencing is set for April 25.

"(I send my) condolences to the family of (the victim)," Hanson said in the release. "(I) would like to thank all of the hard-working members of the Bemidji Police Department and the Minnesota BCA for their excellent investigation in this matter that led to the capture and convictions of the Keezer brothers and James Burnette."