NDSU Student From Brainerd Recovering From Brutal Attack, Family Says
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Family members say a college student at North Dakota State University is in the hospital with severe injuries following an attack over the weekend.
A YouCaring website has been set up for Isaiah Smith, 21, who graduated from Brainerd High School in 2014.
The attack happened Friday night, and Fargo police spoke with Smith in the hospital early Saturday morning.
The student told officers that he was out with friends in a park just south of the NDSU campus when he saw two men who he thought were responsible for an assault earlier in the week. Smith said he "called them out" on the assault, and the men jumped him.
Police say three suspects have been interviewed in connection to the case, which, they added, will likely be sent soon to the Cass County Attorney's Office for possible charges.
Police noted that Smith's injuries were non-life-threatening but serious. They said Smith told officers "not to worry about him."
Smith's sister posted a description of his injuries on the YouCaring site:
"I do not want to share the full details of the attack, in worries that it will hinder the police investigation. I will share his injuries, so you may have an idea.
"His jaw was hanging from his face, broken in three places. Fragments from his jaw bone were near his facial nerves, the surgeon had to pull each fragment out very carefully in order for the facial nerves to stay in tact (sic). His chin, broken, lacerated underneath. Teeth, what teeth? Isaiah will have lost more than half his teeth after this journey to recovery. The surgeon said this is the worst injury he's ever seen.
"His jaw is wired shut, his arm may also be broken, and he has a concussion."
His sister concluded her message by asking those who can't afford to make a donation to "please just pray for him... and pray for this ugly world we live in."