Four young adults and one juvenile are now charged in connection with Tuesday night's assault of a high school athlete during a prep basketball game at Cooper High School in New Hope.
Three of them made their first court appearances Friday.
“This was a shocking display of violence at a high school basketball game, causing injury to the victim and terrifying those in attendance,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said. “We’re grateful the victim is recovering from his injuries, and we will hold the individuals who committed this violence accountable.”
A 17-year-old player on the visiting team from Fridley was hit on the top of his head with a tire iron by one person, and beaten and nearly stabbed by two others. He continues to recover after needing six staples to close the laceration on his head.
The suspects appearing in court today were 18-year old Yahya Khanyare, 18-year old Dursa Mohamed, and 19-year old Ayub Ali. 18-year old Mubashir Ali, and a 17-year old also are charged (WCCO does not name minors).
According to court documents Khanyare is the one alleged to have actually struck the victim with a tire iron during the assault while Mohammed and Ali acted as a look out and a getaway driver.
A family member of Khanyare had this to say after the hearing.
"I said it's just sad that it happened, that's all I can share right now," says the unnamed family member.
Authorities have not yet released a motive for the attack.
According to the complaint:
Video from the school shows the group of suspects arriving together. They took weapons into the school and spent several minutes talking and conspiring together.
They then entered the gym, avoiding the ticketed point of entry, and walked straight toward the bench where the victim was seated. As they neared the victim, one of the males began to run toward the victim. He raised his hand in the air and struck the victim in the head with a metal tire-iron.
Several of the other co-Conspirators joined in the attack, attempting to strike and hit the victim with fists and other weapons. One of the co-Conspirators attempted to stab the victim with a knife. Other co-Conspirators stayed near the exit and appeared to be acting as lookouts during the attack. After the initial attack with the tire-iron, the victim was protected by his teammates and coaches, and the five suspects fled the gym together. They were arrested a short time later.