Brooklyn Center man is charged in gang-related stabbings

By ANTHONY LONETREE, Star Tribune

Last update: July 7, 2009 - 10:32 PM

A Brooklyn Center man who's an alleged member of the Purple Brothers street gang faces assault charges after allegedly stabbing three rival gang members during the Hmong Sports Festival in St. Paul on Sunday.

None of the injuries was life-threatening, said police spokesman Sgt. Paul Schnell.

According to a criminal complaint filed Monday in Ramsey County District Court, police responded to a report of an aggravated assault about 4 p.m. Sunday and found an Asian Blood gang member identified by the initials S.H. with stab wounds to the right side of his body and his back.

A second person associated with the Blood Brother street gang then approached officers, saying he, too, had been stabbed by the same assailant. He had a stab wound in the right side. Finally, a third victim, a self-described Asian Blood member, alleged he had been jumped from behind and stabbed as well.

Witnesses said the assailant was wearing an Oakland Raiders jersey.

A short time later, the complaint said, police saw Norris Yang, 21, on Como Avenue, and after arresting him, found a folded knife wrapped in the elastic of his underwear. The jersey was wrapped around his neck like a scarf, police said.

Yang has been charged with one count each of first-degree assault and second-degree assault.