Fight Victim Remains In Coma

I previously reported here about a vicious assault committed at a fraternity party on the University of Minnesota campus. The alleged assailants, from Brooklyn Park, were arrested but later released pending further investigation.

The University of Minnesota's Minnesota Daily reports a follow up story, and the news is not good: "Hospitalized man remains in coma after post-party fight".

A 20-year-old is in an induced coma after a July 16 fight at the Delta Tau Delta fraternity house.

About 2:20 a.m. a Minneapolis police officer arrived at the back parking lot of the fraternity at 1717 University Ave. S.E.

The attackers were apparently unknown to the Fraternity.

Mark Patterson, an 18-year-old friend of the victim, said he and some friends went to a party at the fraternity that night. He said that a little after 2 a.m. they were standing outside getting ready to leave when they noticed a group of men they didn't know standing outside.

One of the strangers punched the victim in the jaw, Patterson said. The victim immediately fell backward, smacked his head on the concrete and got knocked out, he said.

Patterson said blood was coming out of his friend's mouth and that he had stopped breathing for a few minutes.

I'd like to hear more on those that were arrested: What was the probable cause for their arrest? What is their background? Why were they released? Are they still suspects?

I'd have to assume there were plenty of witnesses.

We don't know all the details, but this sounds like nothing less than a barbaric assault on a possibly unsuspecting victim. If anyone can provide more information on this crime, please email me at: rambix@ix.netcom.com