Ben Katzner, St. Cloud Times, Minn. –
Police say a 20-year-old man who was assaulted in a St. Cloud alley died of head trauma.
Colton Ryan Gleason of Greenfield died at 9:15 p.m. Friday, according to St. Cloud police. He was assaulted in an alley in the 600 block between Eighth and Ninth avenues South at about 11:20 p.m. Thursday. He was taken to St. Cloud Hospital, where he died the next day.
Gleason was walking with friends when a four-door mid- to full-sized white passenger car stopped after traveling north in the alley. One of the occupants got out and punched Gleason once, causing him to fall backwards and strike his head.
Police say it’s unclear what prompted the assault, and they have no reason to believe that Gleason and the assailant knew each other. But they are hoping other people who saw the events will step forward.
Gleason was visiting friends in St. Cloud when the assault happened. He was walking with two young women, who are cooperating with police in the investigation, according to St. Cloud Police Chief Blair Anderson.
