Chad Campbell, the 39-year-old Brainerd man who suffered a serious head injury after being punched Thursday in downtown Brainerd, has died.
Campbell, who suffered extensive frontal/temporal lobe brain damage and was on a ventilator in the intensive care unit at St. Cloud Hospital, died 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at the hospital, the Brainerd Police Department reported.
An autopsy is scheduled to determine the exact cause and manner of Campbell's death, police said.
Accused of striking Campbell is Bradley Thomas Lewis, 25, Brainerd. Lewis has been charged with first- and third-degree assault .
According to the criminal complaint filed Friday against Lewis, Campbell and another man were involved in an argument about 1:25 a.m. Thursday near Seventh and Front streets in downtown Brainerd. As bystanders were attempting to separate Campbell and the other man, Lewis appeared and was trying to get at Campbell.
The complaint further said witnesses said it appeared Campbell did not want to fight and had his hands up in a defensive manner when Lewis struck Campbell on the side of the head, knocking him to the ground and rendering him unconscious.
Brainerd Police Chief John Bolduc said investigators would meet with Crow Wing County Attorney Don Ryan to discuss amending Lewis' criminal complaint to include a more serious charge.
Bolduc said Campbell's family members have been at St. Cloud Hospital for the past several days and police officers have been in contact with them.
"This is a terrible tragedy for the family and for the Brainerd community," Bolduc said.
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