Assault charges against college student for beating teachers

A St. Paul man was charged with three counts of assault in the beating of two instructors at Normandale Community College, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Thursday.

Gavin Hutson, 21, was charged with one count of third-degree assault, two counts of misdemeanor fifth-degree assault and a gross misdemeanor charge of carrying a pistol without a permit. He is expected to make his first court appearance Friday.

According to the criminal complaint, Hutson was in a class in the science building of the Bloomington school when his teacher asked him to stay after class to discuss an inappropriate remark he made to another student. Hutson did, but then hit her, knocking her to the floor where she lost consciousness. A witness said Hutson then stood over the teacher and continued punching her.

The witness yelled for help and another teacher came into the classroom and tried to pull Hutson away from the unconscious teacher. Hutson punched the second teacher, possibly using an object, because the teacher suffered a cut to the right side of his forehead, the complaint states.

Hutson ran from the classroom and in the hallway stiff-armed a student into the wall. That student was wearing a soft splint on a previously broken wrist and hitting the wall caused more pain to his wrist, according to the complaint. Police caught up to Hutson in a nearby parking ramp and when they arrested him, he had blood splattered on his hands and shirt sleeves.

The first teacher was taken to the hospital where X-rays revealed she had two broken bones in her face, according to the complaint.

When he ran from the classroom, Hutson left behind his backpack, the complaint states. Police searched it and discovered a .40 caliber Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistol. The gun was loaded and additional ammunition was in the backpack.

Hutson Criminal complaint (PDF)