A beloved resident of West Fargo, North Dakota, Jorden Boehm, has sadly passed away on January 1, 2026. The tragedy unfolded shortly after midnight in the quiet rural setting of a home in the 1700 block of Minnesota Highway 75 near Wolverton, where Jorden and several friends had gathered to welcome the new year.
They spent the evening enjoying fireworks, sharing drinks, and working on cars, a typical celebration among young people in the border communities. What began as a joyful night turned devastating when a gun was introduced into the gathering.
According to accounts from witnesses and family, 26-year-old Myron Allen Johanson, the homeowner, began handling a firearm in a reckless manner. He placed the gun under Jorden’s chin despite the young man’s clear plea of “dude, stop,” and the weapon discharged, sending a bullet through Jorden’s head. Friends, including his closest college companion who sat right beside him, watched in horror as Jorden collapsed, the sudden violence shattering the festive atmosphere in an instant.
Emergency responders arrived promptly after a call at approximately 12:49 a.m., but Jorden Boehm, just 22 years old and having celebrated his birthday only days earlier, was pronounced dead at the scene from the gunshot wound. Deputies quickly interviewed those present, leading to Johanson’s identification and arrest later that morning. He was booked into the Wilkin County jail on a third-degree murder charge, with authorities confirming the two knew each other through mutual friends and assuring the public there is no ongoing threat.
Jorden grew up in New Rockford, North Dakota, the second youngest of four boys in a family that cherished his protective and helpful nature. After earning an automotive technology degree from Lake Region State College, he moved to West Fargo to pursue his deep passion for cars, working at local shops while dreaming of one day owning his own auto repair business. His love for mechanics extended to racing and demolition derbies, activities he shared with family, alongside a past enthusiasm for football that once fueled hopes of playing professionally.
Those who knew Jorden remember a young man whose kindness and uplifting spirit touched everyone around him, always ready to lend a hand or offer encouragement even on his tougher days. His father, Jon Boehm, spoke of him as open, honest, and endlessly fun, while his mother, Michelle Sanger, described a polite and loving son who made her world brighter.
The communities across the North Dakota-Minnesota border continue to process this heartbreaking loss, with family and friends gathering on January 3 in New Rockford to celebrate Jorden’s life rather than dwell solely on its tragic end. A fundraiser supports funeral arrangements still being finalized, as the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension assists the ongoing investigation.