Man Severely Beaten After Leaving Minnesota State Fair

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A man is fighting for his life following an attack near the Minnesota State Fair.

Someone knocked 48-year-old Mike Donnelly unconscious after he left the fairgrounds on Friday night.

The attack happened near Albert Street and Breda Avenue in St. Paul.

St. Paul police investigators say the Donnelly's injuries are so severe they have not been able to speak with him about the incident.

What they do know is Donnelly was beaten and stomped, and they are trying to figure out who did it and why.

About eight blocks from the Snelling Avenue entrance to the State Fair, near an intersection where people park and walk to the fairgrounds, neighbors gathered to discuss the violence that invaded their community over the weekend.

According to St. Paul police, it was shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday when they were called to an alley near Albert Street and Breda Avenue on reports of a unconscious man who had been assaulted.

They arrived to find Donnelly lying in the alley. He was then rushed to Regions Hospital.

The victim's brother told the Pioneer Press he offered Michael and a friend a ride home from the fair, but they said they would stay a little later and catch an Uber home.

The brother says Donnelly was on the phone as he walked trying to set up his ride home, when people gathered at a house began yelling at him.

Donnelly kept walking, only to have someone come up from behind and hit him with something.

When he was on the ground, it's believe someone stomped on his head.

Regions Hospital has Donnelly listed in critical condition.

Investigators are looking for anyone who may have witnessed the attack. If you have any information, call St. Paul police.