A teen was brutally attacked by a group at the Edina Southdale YMCA in December that left the victim with serious injuries, according to the Edina Police Department, and there’s still no word on whether there have been any arrests or charges.
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.
A corresponding search warrant affidavit requested a few days later by police lays out a few more details. The search warrant seeks to obtain evidence including video recordings that took place at the time of the attack.
The search warrant identifies several cellphones that were seized by police following the assault and are being held by the department.
The search warrant describes 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.
The assault was not captured on the video surveillance cameras belonging to the YMCA, although subjects could be seen holding cellphones, which appeared to be recording the assault.
Police determined that the parties involved are all students at Edina High School. Responding officers noted the victim was wearing an Edina t-shirt with blood stains, and the victim had a laceration under his eye and several contusions that had begun to swell. The victim was able to tell officers that the people who attacked him were Edina High School students, and he was able to provide the name of one of the alleged suspects.
The victim’s mental state began to decline while being transported in the ambulance, as evidenced by repetitive statements and lack of memories, the affidavit said.
At least two of the cellphones collected were from persons who witnessed and recorded the assault, and one belonged to the victim, according to the affidavit. The document does not describe whether the two other parties were involved in the assault, and does not offer any details about a motive for the attack.
Media reports have subsequently identified the injured victim as Elroi Beyene, an Edina High School student, who is now recovering at home. Family told KSTP that Beyene suffered a brain injury, memory loss and was struggling to eat in the week following the attack.
There has been no new information released by police regarding arrests or charges in the case.
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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.
