Family members have identified the 17-year-old boy stabbed to death Saturday along the Apple River in Somerset, Wisconsin as Isaac Schuman, a Stillwater High School honor roll student on the cusp of undertaking his senior year.
Four others were also injured in Saturday’s attack — their injuries ranging from “serious to critical,” according to officials.
St. Croix County Sheriff Scott Knudson told reporters law enforcement was dispatched to the area of the Sunrise Bridge near Sunrise Park at around 3:45 p.m. on reports that multiple people had been stabbed. When deputies arrived, they found five people suffering from stab wounds, one of whom would not survive.
“I’ve been there so many times and every time you go there it’s just people having a good time. Everybody’s in good spirits. I’m absolutely shocked that this happened,” said Molly Nistler of Burnsville, who was tubing down the river about 15 minutes behind the group attacked.
Sheriff Knudson said one of the victims — a 17-year-old from Stillwater now identified as Schuman — was taken to Lakeview Hospital, where he later died. The other four victims were transported to Regions Hospital; two were airlifted and two were taken by ground ambulance.
On Sunday, the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office announced in a press release the ages and home communities of the victims and added that their conditions are stable. All four suffered injuries to their chest/torso areas ranging from serious to critical. The victims include a 20-year-old man and a 22-year-old man from Luck, WI, a 24-year-old woman from Burnsville and a 22-year-old man from Elk River.
“Chaotic. Scary. I’m sure that anybody who witnessed this will never forget it,” Knudson said. “It is a tragedy, and I feel really bad for the families.”
Knudson says a 52-year-old Prior Lake man was arrested after a witness provided them with a photo of the suspect. No other suspects are being sought. The sheriff’s office said on Sunday that the suspect’s identity is being withheld pending formal charges, which are expected to come Monday.
Knudson said it’s believed that everyone involved in the incident was tubing down the river, but didn’t provide any further details about what led up to the incident.
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