A 17-year-old Austin youth is in custody and faces possible 2nd degree felony assault charges in connection with the stabbing of another 17-year old Austin youth.

Thursday, February 17, 2000

A 17-year-old Austin youth is in custody and faces possible 2nd degree felony assault charges in connection with the stabbing of another 17-year old Austin youth.

According to the Austin Police Department, the incident stemmed from a fight that had racial overtones.

Austin police received several calls near 4 p.m. Wednesday, when the fight occurred in a parking lot between Excalibur Laundromat and the McDonald’s restaurant in southwest Austin.

The wound was attended to by a Gold Cross Ambulance Service crew, but the victim did not require transport to Austin Medical Center. The victim’s wound was described as a one-quarter inch puncture in the lower left buttock area.

The witnesses included employees and customers at McDonald’s restaurant and Fuller Tax Service, who saw the fight.

Several Hispanic teenage males and several Caucasian teenage males were involved. The alleged assailant is Hispanic and the victim is Caucasian. Multiple witnesses confirmed the racial makeup of the street brawl.

When an Austin patrolman arrived at the scene and went into Excalibur Laundromat to confront the subject identified as the perpetrator of the stabbing, the youth alleged a gray car tried to run him over. He also denied brandishing a knife, but did admit he took a tire jack handle from the trunk of his mother’s car to defend himself. The youth said the Caucasian youths made racial slurs against his companions and himself.

The youth’s mother, who was also inside the laundromat, became belligerent in defending her son, but was not arrested, according to the police report. Two other Hispanic youths at the scene also confirmed the suspect’s story.

Other witnesses and/or participants in the confrontation told police, the dispute started at the Hardee’s restaurant at the intersection of West Oakland Avenue and Fourth Street minutes earlier Wednesday afternoon. The argument was over allegations that an unidentified Ellis Middle School student was assaulted.

When the argument moved further along West Oakland Avenue to the McDonald’s restaurant and Fuller Tax Service area, the Hispanic teenagers allegedly threw rocks at the car containing Caucasian youths.

According to the police report, the car sped away, but returned later with more youths and the fight began in the parking lot between the laundromat and fast food restaurant.

The Caucasian youths’ version was that the suspect in custody brandished an 8-inch knife or letter opener.

The victim said he was pinned by three Hispanic youths against a car and struck with fists and stabbed.

No knife was found Wednesday, but a tire jack handle was seized as evidence.

Austin Police Chief Paul M. Philipp said Mower County Attorney Patrick A. Oman will review the case and the department is asking for second degree assault charges against the teenager.

The identity of the alleged perpetrator of the crime was not available at press-time. Minnesota law now allows juveniles charged with felony crime to be identified.