Man Attacked by Knife and Robbed in Rochester, Suspects Captured

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Two young men are in custody following a robbery and knife attack that was reported in Rochester earlier this week.

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The criminal complaint, filed in Olmsted County Court on Friday, says Rochester police responded to a hospital on the report of a robbery shortly before 10:20 Wednesday night.

Officers met with the victim who told them he had been robbed outside of his home by two men earlier that evening. He said the masked men demanded he turn over all of his belongings, the complaint says.

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The victim told police the suspects then punched him repeatedly, stabbed him then took two cell phones. Responding officers saw the victim has a three inch laceration on his hand and smaller cuts on his arm, the charges say.

Police then went to the scene of the robbery and spoke with a neighbor who said they saw the two assailants. One of them was holding a bloody knife and asked where the victim was, according to the complaint.

Pina/Kyaw complaint. Olmsted County Court

Police identified the suspects as 25-year-old Ka Ba Ba Kyaw and 25-year-old Gilson Patrick Pina. Police went to Pina’s residence where they arrested both Rochester men and found two knives in Pina's possession, the charges say.

Kyaw and Pina are each charged with first-degree aggravated robbery and second-degree assault, according to court records.

Kyaw. Olmsted County ADC

Pina’s bail was set at $100,000 without conditions on Thursday. Kyaw is being held on $50,000 bail.

Pina. Olmsted County ADC

The court document does not say where in Rochester the alleged robbery and knife attack took place. It also does not state whether or not the victim and suspects know each other.

Both men were also formally charged Thursday with felony theft in connection to a shoplifting case at Scheels in Rochester in July. The charges in that case say the men stole more than $1,500 in clothes from the store.

Both suspects are due back in court later this month.