Byron stabbing suspects 'extremely familiar to us,' sheriff's office says

Apr. 2—BYRON — A stabbing that occurred Thursday night near Byron Middle School has led to two familiar suspects, according to Olmsted County Sheriff's Capt. Scott Behrns.

"These are the two that assaulted a deputy in Byron last year," Behrns said. "And they're at it again."

About 6:13 p.m. Thursday, deputies responded to Byron Middle School where a 14-year-old boy was found with a stab wound to his lower abdomen, Behrns said. That victim was given first aid and taken to Mayo Clinic Hospital-Saint Marys with non-life threatening injuries.

Behrns said a 16-year-old boy stabbed the victim. He was later apprehended with a 5-inch serrated steak knife. That suspect was apprehended with a 15-year-old boy, who tried but failed to stab a second suspect, another 15-year-old.

Both victims and both suspects are all from Byron.

According to law enforcement reports, Behrns said the incident began when the two victims and two suspects met near Byron Middle School and a confrontation began with punches being thrown before the suspects pulled out knives and the stabbing occurred.

When deputies arrived, they found the victims on the walking path near the softball fields, Behrns said. A second deputy spotted the suspects near the 600 block of Second Avenue Northwest. When the suspects spotted the deputy, they ran and were chased on foot by the deputy. They were apprehended in the parking lot of a church in the 500 block of First Avenue Northwest.

"They admitted they were there, and they admitted they were involved in a knife altercation," Behrns said, adding the suspects are "extemely familiar to us."

While charges on the juveniles are pending, Behrns said they will likely face multiple felony charges that could potentially be upgraded to adult-level charges.