Two Men Charged in Bloody Assault Outside of Rochester Business

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Two homeless men have been charged in connection with an assault outside of the Rochester business that left the victim with a brain injury. 

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The criminal complaints filed against the two suspects say the assault happened on the morning of September 12.

The business, which is not identified in either complaint, is located in southeast Rochester. 

Charges: Man Suffered Brain Injury Following Assault Outside of Rochester Business

Court documents say Rochester police responded to the report of an assault around 3:15 a.m. and encountered the apparent victim suffering from multiple facial and head injuries. The man was also bleeding and responding officers found a pool of blood at the scene. 

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He told police he went to the business to meet a friend who works at the business when he saw what the complaints say “some people,” who the victim had previously trespassed from the business due to their behavior, the complaints say. 

Investigators reviewed surveillance footage and identified the men as 27-year-old Jordan Tylerlee Smith and 18-year-old Solomon Ojulu Obang. The footage shows Obang taking what is described in court documents as an “aggressive stance.” 

The victim and Obang are then seen getting into fighting stances. Obang swung first at the victim and the victim swung at Obang. Smith, who was standing behind the victim, hit the victim in the head, which caused him to fall to the ground, the charges say. 

Smith is then seen punching the victim in the head while he was on the ground about five times, according to court documents. 

The footage shows Obang kicking the victim in the head in a stomping-like motion. Obang kicked the victim in the head about four more times, the charges say. 

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The victim eventually lifted his head as the two walked away and Obang kicked him in the head two more times before he and Smith left the area, according to the complaints. Officers found Smith who alleged the victim was saying racial slurs. Smith claimed he joined the altercation to protect Obang.

The victim was reported to have suffered a brain bleed following the attack, the complaints say. Court documents do not indicate whether or not the victim was taken to a hospital. 

Smith was charged with felony third and fifth-degree assault. Court records indicate he has prior assault-related convictions.

His conditional bail was set at $35,000 following his first court appearance last week. 

On Monday authorities issued an arrest warrant for Obang that charges him with aiding and abetting third-degree assault. As of Monday night he has not yet been taken into custody, according to Olmsted County Jail records.

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