Knife-Wielding Kasson Man Facing Attempted Murder Charges After Bloody Confrontation

Kasson, MN (KROC-AM News)- A southeast Minnesota man is facing attempted murder and other felony charges following a knife attack in Kasson. 

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That’s according to a criminal complaint filed in Dodge County Court on Monday. The alleged assault occurred on April 11. 

Members of the Kasson Police Department responded to the incident on the report of a man trying to break into a residence and stab the occupants inside. 

Charges: Man Tried to Stab Man and Woman During Fight at Kasson, MN Home

Authorities identified the knife-wielding suspect as 52-year-old Johnathan David Harris of Kasson. Officers found him outside of a home at the scene in the 500 block of 1st Ave. Northwest. 

Responding officers tried to calm Harris, but he refused law enforcement commands and eventually began reaching into a vehicle at the scene and made comments that officers would have to kill him, the charges say. 

Police pulled Harris from the vehicle, took him to the ground and handcuffed him. Harris was eventually sedated and transported to St. Mary’s Hospital for further care, according to the court document. 

A woman at the scene who called law enforcement for help told police Harris had tried to stab her and held a knife to her stomach after the two had gotten into an argument inside the home, the complaint says. 

A man also at the home was sleeping when the woman woke him to tell him Harris held a knife to her stomach. The victim said he tried to gather the woman’s belongings and take the knife when Harris began hitting him, the charges say. 

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Harris then went into the garage to retrieve a knife. The victim said he ran into home and that Harris stabbed at him as he was trying to close the back door, according to the complaint. 

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Harris, who was wielding a knife, then forced opened a door to the home and the two continued fighting. During the altercation, the victim grabbed the blade of the knife with his hands and said Harris pushed the knife into the victim's skin, the charges say. 

At one point Harris got on top of the victim with the knife and began choking him. The victim also told police Harris tried to stab him in the neck, according to the complaint. 

He fended off Harris and was able to escape. The victim was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment of his cut-up right hand, the complaint says. 

Responding officers found blood throughout the home and three knives, according to the court document. 

Harris was medically cleared on Friday and subsequently booked into the Olmsted County Jail. Harris is charged with two counts of first-degree attempted murder, two counts of second-degree assault and a gross misdemeanor count of domestic assault. 

His conditional bail was set at $250,000 Monday and he’s due back in court later this month.