A man is in a coma after being attacked by two juveniles outside Regions Hospital in St. Paul last month.
Isaiah L. Coleman and Jeremiah Ward, both 16 and both of St. Paul, were charged Monday in Ramsey County District Court with felony first-degree assault.
Authorities will seek to certify them as adults.
According to the complaints, Ward and Coleman argued with the man, who was not named in court documents, outside the hospital, 640 Jackson St., on Dec. 30.
Witnesses told police that the teens pushed and punched the man, and that the victim had his hands up in a "defensive sort of way, so he looked scared."
The teens fled, but authorities found them through surveillance video from a Metro Transit light-rail stop. A school resource officer reviewed photos and identified both teens.
Ward told police that the man said something to the teens about "another black male angry again," which upset Coleman. Ward claimed the man used a racial slur. Ward said he tried to separate the two, but Coleman hit the man.
According to video from Regions Hospital: Coleman and Ward approached the man, who took a step backward. The teens continued approaching. Ward got between Coleman and the man. At some point, Coleman pushed the man to the ground and kicked him. When the man got to his feet, Ward allegedly struck the man, causing him to fall.
Coleman told police the man was making comments that upset him, and that he struck the man in the chest.
The man was listed in critical condition and was in a coma as of Jan. 8 with no prognosis for whether he would recover, the charges said.
CHAO XIONG
