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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

VCC student charged with attempted murder

Keith Vandervort
Posted 2/3/16

ELY – Michael M. Connelly, 20, a student at Vermilion Community College in Ely, is charged with attempted murder, second degree, following an alleged assault on another student who suffered a cut …

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VCC student charged with attempted murder

Posted

ELY – Michael M. Connelly, 20, a student at Vermilion Community College in Ely, is charged with attempted murder, second degree, following an alleged assault on another student who suffered a cut to the throat.

Ely Police Officer George Burger responded to a report of a fight between two students last Wednesday night at 11:20 p.m., according to the criminal complaint.

Connelly told police that he was friends with the victim, and the two were roommates for about a week. He said they argued about the smell of smoking in the room before the incident.

“Something just came over me, honestly,” Connelly told Burger. “I thought about it, I got up, it was like my thought just stopped after something in me made the decision to get up and cut him.” He said he retrieved a knife from a box he had on the shelf, turned and grabbed the victim’s head and put the blade to his neck. He said when he first grabbed the victim he made a swiping motion across his neck, according to the complaint.

The victim, 21, whose identity was not revealed, was taken to Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital, where he received approximately 19 stitches to close the wound.

Connelly was taken to St. Louis County Jail in Virginia. He also faces two counts of assault, second degree. The attempted murder charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The assault charges carry a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and/or $14,000 fine.

The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office and the Babbitt Police Department assisted with the call.