Charges: Man Throws Wrench At 4-Year-Old's Head
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – An 18-year-old New Hope man faces five felony charges after he allegedly threw a wrench into a car, hitting a 4-year-old boy in the head, fracturing his skull and eye socket.
Nico Marshall is charged with three counts of assault and two counts of rioting, according to court documents filed Wednesday.
The injured boy was treated at the North Memorial Medical Center emergency room. His condition is not known and his name was not released.
The charges against Marshall stem from an incident that happened on May 7 in Brooklyn Center, near the intersection of Brooklyn Boulevard and 53rd Avenue North.
On that day, the 4-year-old boy was sitting in the back of a red Grand Am that had arrived to pick up some people who were threatened by group armed with chains and a wrench, the criminal complaint said.
A victim, who was one of those initially under attack, told police that the group had gotten off a bus after one of its members, a teenage girl, saw him walking with his friends. The girl yelled antagonizing words, making the victim nervous. The victim told police that Marshall, his friend's sister's boyfriend, "had beef" with him and his friends.
The victims, whose names were not released, told police the group threatened them. In response, they called an adult to quickly come and rescue them. When the car arrived, the group began pounding on the car with locks and chains, shattering windows and cracking the windshield.
It was during this clash, that Marshall allegedly threw a wrench in the car, hitting the child's head. The car drove off soon after.
Marshall told police he threw a lock and chain (not a wrench) into the car in an attempt to hit the woman who was driving. He said he didn't know there was a child in the car until he heard the boy's screams as the car drove off.
Police found both a chain and a large wrench in the Grand Am.
Police arrested the following people in connection with the alleged group attack: Narvell Porter, Passion Danneyealla Russell, Jaleesa Jackson and a juvenile girl. They spoke with police. Jackson said a woman in the car threw a wrench at Marshall. Porter said the Grand Am hit Russell.
If convicted of all charges, Marshall could face up to 31 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $62,000.
