Edina police have announced the arrest of several juveniles in connection to the Southdale YMCA mob attack of another juvenile last month that left the Edina High School teen with a brain injury.
Police announced on Thursday that four juveniles had been arrested, and on Friday they announced the arrest of a fifth juvenile in connection to the attack.
The attack happened around 6 p.m. on Friday Dec. 20, when officers were dispatched to a report of a large fight in progress at the facility located at 7655 York Avenue South. According to the police report and details provided by Edina PD, dispatch advised officers that they received multiple calls of 20-30 Somali males fighting near the gym. An arriving officer entered the YMCA and observed a large group inside the lobby area assaulting a 16-year-old boy. The boy sustained “serious injuries” and was transported to a hospital for treatment. The suspects had fled, and there were no immediate arrests, police said in a statement following the assault.
Edina police said in their Thursday and Friday statements this week that they have been working diligently to investigate this case and identify the suspects, whom they listed as follows:
- A 16-year-old boy arrested Wednesday in Edina, charged with felony third-degree riot and felony third-degree assault
Three more teenage boys were arrested Thursday in connection with the assault. They were arrested on the following charges and were brought to the Juvenile Detention Center, pending formal charges:
- A 17-year-old boy arrested in Edina for felony third-degree riot and felony third-degree assault
- A 16-year-old boy arrested in Bloomington for felony third-degree riot and felony third-degree assault
- A 14-year-old boy arrested in Edina (charges not available due to age)
On Friday, Jan. 10, a 17-year-old was arrested in Edina for felony third-degree riot and felony third-degree assault and was brought to the Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Center.
Police had previously requested a search warrant in order to obtain potential video evidence from cellphones seized from witnesses and the victim following the attack.
The search warrant described that an unknown person had let approximately 13 males inside the back door of the YMCA, who then gathered in the gymnasium before assaulting the victim. All parties were also described as students at Edina High School.
The victim was subsequently identified in a media report as Elroi Beyene, who had been released from the hospital and was recovering at home following the assault. Family told KSTP that Beyene suffered a brain injury, memory loss and was struggling to eat in the week following the attack. A source familiar with the incident has since told Crime Watch Minneapolis that the victim has now returned to school late this week. Authorities have not revealed a motive for the attack.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
