Police Complete Probe Of MSU Student Assault
EAST LANSING (WWJ/AP) - Police say they have completed their investigation into an assault on a Michigan State University student who claimed he had his jaw broken and mouth stapled after revealing he's Jewish.
East Lansing police Capt. Jeff Murphy says the department's findings in the Aug. 26 attack on sophomore Zach Tennen were submitted to the Ingham County prosecutor's office on Thursday.
According to Murphy, the report includes statements from more than 40 witnesses and identifies one suspect, an 18-year-old Farmington Hills man.
Tennen, a 19-year-old sophomore in MSU's journalism program, said he was at a house party on the 500 block of Spartan Avenue early in the morning when two men approached him and asked if he was Jewish. When he responded "Yes," the two men raised their arms into a Nazi salute and said "Heil Hitler" before knocking him unconscious, according to Tennen's mother.
About 20 people reportedly watched as the men proceeded to staple Tennen's mouth shut at the lips and gums.
"It almost seemed like they tried to kill me, and to think about that in my brain, physically — it isn't very pleasant," Zachary Tennen told campus newspaper The State News.
On Thursday, Murphy said witnesses haven't confirmed Tennen's account that he was hit after revealing his religion. Tennen has said it was "shameful" that such "religious hatred exists in our country."
Murphy said he expects the prosecutor's office to make a decision on charges soon. A message was left with prosecutors on Thursday.
MORE: Police: MSU Student Attack Not Likely Hate Crime
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