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Inmate charged with beating cellmate to death at Rush City prison

William Davon Hall, 29, was charged with second-degree murder in Chisago County after prosecutors say he fatally beat his cellmate, Stephen Scott Washington, at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Rush City on Oct. 9, 2025.[1]

Surveillance video shows about seven minutes of rapid movement and punching, then Hall covering the cell window from 1:00 to 1:06 p.m. before an alarm sounded at 1:26 p.m., officials said.[1] Stephen Washington was found unconscious in cell 230 and pronounced dead at 2:07 p.m., and the Midwest Medical Examiner found extensive blunt force head and neck injuries and ruled the manner of death a homicide.[1]

Hall had a prior conviction for second-degree murder in a 2020 Brooklyn Park shooting and was serving time at Rush City when state prosecutors said the fatal attack occurred.[1]

  1. FOX 9
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📌 Key Facts

  • Defendant: William Davon Hall, 29, charged with second-degree murder in Chisago County
  • Victim: Stephen Scott Washington, 40, found unconscious in cell 230 at Rush City prison on Oct. 9, 2025 and pronounced dead at 2:07 p.m.
  • Surveillance shows a seven-minute period of rapid movement and punching motions, followed by Hall covering the cell window from 1:00–1:06 p.m. before the alarm at 1:26 p.m.
  • Midwest Medical Examiner found extensive blunt force head and neck injuries and ruled the manner of death homicide
  • Hall has a prior conviction for 2nd-degree murder in a 2020 Brooklyn Park shooting

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August 16, 2026