A visitor at the Minnesota State Fair was brutally attacked by a group of young men, resulting in multiple fractures to his jaw. This incident turned what was supposed to be an enjoyable evening with friends into a “hellish nightmare,” according to his fiancée.
Sammy Kimbrough, 45, is in critical condition and underwent urgent reconstructive surgery Saturday night following the violent assault that left him unconscious and bloodied at the fair in St. Paul, Minnesota.
“Last night, Sammy was brutally assaulted by a group of young men in a completely senseless act of violence,” Heather Hoffman, Kimbrough’s fiancée, posted on social media Sunday.
“Anyone who knows Sammy knows he is one of the most laid-back, kind-hearted, and non-confrontational men you could ever meet. It’s been difficult to process this situation,” she added.
Kimbrough was attending the final weekend of the fair, recognized as the largest in Minnesota, with friends and his fiancée when the attack occurred.
While exploring the sprawling 322-acre fairgrounds, Kimbrough and two friends separated from their main group. They accidentally collided with a member of a larger group, reportedly 8 to 12 people.
“This young man started a verbal exchange with Sammy and became aggressive,” Hoffman recounted. “Sammy tried to politely say, ‘Excuse me’ and ‘Back up’ before he was punched.”
Another attacker then knocked Kimbrough down, and the group began to “stomp his face into the pavement,” she said.
“What should have been a minor incident escalated into something unimaginable. The group assaulted him, rendering him unconscious and kicking him in the face while he was down,” a family friend, Kira Roland, shared on a fundraising page.
Kimbrough was left unconscious and bleeding, suffering a “significant fracture” on the right side of his jaw, along with several smaller fractures on the left side.
He was taken to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where he had emergency surgery to insert plates and screws into his jaw.
After spending two days in the hospital, he was discharged Tuesday.
Due to the severity of the fractures, he required his jaw to be bandaged shut and secured with additional bands.
“Once the fractures heal enough for him to open his mouth, he will face extensive dental surgery due to multiple broken, loose, and knocked-out teeth,” Hoffman explained.
Kimbrough noted that the surgery was successful and expressed hope for his recovery. “It’ll be a long recovery!” he posted. “I’ll be back to normal in no time!”
Authorities at the state fair confirmed the assault occurred Saturday night, yet no arrests have been made. “At this point, we haven’t identified the attackers. Once we do, we will pursue charges fully,” Hoffman stated. “This kind of violence is unacceptable, and those responsible will face consequences.”
The Minnesota State Fair took place from August 27 to Labor Day, remaining open daily until 11 p.m.
