ST. LOUIS — Two men were charged after police said they beat a man and left him in critical condition Monday evening.
According to an incident report from St. Louis police, the beating happened at about 5:30 Monday evening on the 800 block of North Jefferson and sent a 52-year-old man to the hospital in critical condition. Police said 18-year-old Nathan Kehn and 20-year-old Branden Leachman were taken into custody in connection with the incident.
Police said the incident started when the victim, who police said was intoxicated at the time, and one of the suspects agreed to a fistfight. When the victim was knocked down during the fight, both Kehn and Leachman continued to attack him by kicking him and hitting him with a glass bottle, police said.
The suspects then left the man on the ground and ran to a nearby convenience store, where they told an employee that they had just knocked the victim out.
According to charging documents, Leachman said he recorded Kehn knocking the victim out. He showed police the recording, which also showed Leachman kicking and taunting the unconscious victim.
Charging documents said Kehn admitted that he knocked the victim out and tried to break his neck and kill him. Kehn also told police that Leachman stole the victim's wallet and used his credit cards to buy cigarettes and beer, according to the documents.
The victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition with unstable vital signs. Police said "death was not imminent" when he was taken to the hospital. According to charging documents, he remained in critical condition.
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
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