A 22-year-old man is in critical condition at a Fargo hospital after suffering a severe knife wound to the chest during a multiple assault at a home in White Earth, Minn., Becker County Sheriff Tim Gordon said.
White Earth tribal police and Becker County deputies responded to the incident at 5:40 a.m. Sunday and found two people injured.
Edward Dakota, 22, appeared to have suffered a severe knife wound to the chest, and his brother, Daniel Dakota, 24, had head lacerations, Gordon said.
Authorities arrested a suspect, Nakoya Lee VanWert, 18, of White Earth, who was hiding in the woods within 100 yards of the home, Gordon said. A knife was recovered from VanWert, who was celebrating his 18th birthday on Sunday, he said.
Gordon said the assaults occurred during a house party attended by at least a dozen people.
ADVERTISEMENT
"It appears that alcohol was a very strong contributing factor to this issue," he said.
Edward Dakota was transferred from St. Mary's Regional Health Center in Detroit Lakes to MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, where he was in critical condition this morning, Gordon said.
Daniel Dakota was treated for lacerations at the Detroit Lakes hospital and released.
The case will be presented to the county attorney for consideration of charges, Gordon said.