Assault charges against man who stabbed and beat four in St. Anthony

A man living in a St. Anthony home, who went on a rampage injuring four with a knife and a frying pan, was charged with assault, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced Friday.

Raphael Simmons, 32, was charged with one count of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault and one count of third-degree assault. He was expected to make his first appearance this afternoon.

According to the criminal complaint, police were called to the 2600 block of 29th Avenue North in St. Anthony about 8:40 a.m. Wednesday and found a man who was bleeding from his hand and face. He told police he was stabbed by Simmons.

The man said he lived in the same house with Simmons and three women and was outside the house when he heard one of the women, identified as C.C., calling for help. The man went into the house and saw her trying to defend herself from Simmons, who was holding a small sharp knife. Simmons and the man began fighting as the man tried to get Simmons out of the house, but he eventually gave up and went for help, the complaint states.

During that fight, C.C. was able to run into the bathroom, lock the door and call 911. She said she heard scuffling in the house and heard one of the residents, H.M., yelling “get out.” There was a loud bang and when C.C. investigated she saw H.M. lying on the floor and Simmons standing over her with a frying pan, according to the complaint.

A short time later, H.M.’s daughter, T.M., arrived home and saw her mom on the floor and heard someone in the bathroom, the complaint states. Then Simmons, with whom she had been in a relationship, came out of a bedroom with a knife. He said, “do I need to stab you, too?” and began fighting with T.M. to get her car keys. During the fight, she suffered a cut to the head severe enough to require staples to close.

Police were approaching the front door when Simmons came out and officers told him to get on the ground. Simmons told police to shoot him and went to a car in the driveway and climbed in, according to the complaint. Police eventually pulled him from the car.

The victim H.M. had to have her spleen removed and had bleeding on her brain, the complaint states. Prosecutors will be seeking bail of $500,000.

Simmons Criminal Complaint (PDF)