AITKIN — A 49-year-old McGregor man faces a second-degree attempted murder charge for allegedly stabbing another McGregor man during a fight.
Clifford Monroe Skinaway Jr. was charged Friday, June 26, in Aitkin County District Court with three felony counts of second-degree attempted murder with intent but not with premediatation and first- and second-degree assault.
The maximum sentence Skinaway may receive for the attempted murder charge is no more than 20 years.
The Aitkin County Sheriff’s office received a 911 call at 7:22 p.m. Thursday, June 25, of a man who was stabbed in the chest at a residence on 390th Lane in Spalding Township, south of McGregor. According to the criminal complaint filed against Skinaway, deputies observed blood on the metal railing, doorknobs and on the ground in front of the door. The homeowner told deputies that Skinaway got into a fight with the victim, a 45-year-old McGregor man. The homeowner stated Skinaway and the victim had been drinking and they began to argue, which is when Skinaway stabbed the victim. The homeowner called 911 after seeing the victim’s injuries. Skinaway then fled the scene on a bicycle, the sheriff’s office reported.
With the assistance of the Minnesota State Patrol and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, deputies located Skinaway biking on Highway 65 just after 8:30 p.m.
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Skinaway appeared to be very intoxicated and was wearing a small punch dagger on a lanyard around his neck. He was handcuffed and the knife was removed from around his neck.
Skinaway was observed to have several injuries to his body, including what appeared to be fresh scratch marks on the back of his neck. Skinaway stated his injuries were from falling off his bike. The defendant was arrested and while en route to the jail he asked the deputy several times if the victim had been flown out to a hospital.
After obtaining a search warrant for the residence at 12:05 a.m., authorities located the victim huddled behind a door in the corner under pillows. A large amount of blood was on the floor and on the victim’s pants and shirt. He also had two very deep stab wounds in his chest, the complaint stated.
During a taped statement between the deputy and the victim, the McGregor man stated he was arguing with Skinaway and jumped up and hit him. The victim then hit the defendant in the back, and a fight ensued. At some point during the fight, Skinaway stabbed him. The victim stated he was scared and tried to run from the residence. When he realized he could not run, he hid. The man had a 1-inch defensive wound on his hand and two 1-inch wounds in his chest.
The victim stated it hurt to breath and his stomach hurt. He was transported by ambulance to Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin and then transferred to Hennepin County Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
Skinaway is being housed in the Aitkin County Jail on unconditional bond/bail of $600,000 and conditional bond/bail of $300,000.
His next court hearing is set for July 10.
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