Prosecutors say a St. Cloud parking lot turned violent last Thursday afternoon when 19-year-old Keniel La Torre Delgado allegedly slashed a man in the face with a box cutter, leaving him with several cuts, including one roughly two inches long. Officers who responded to the scene examined the victim’s injuries, and the situation escalated quickly from disturbance to felony case.
According to Stearns County prosecutors, Delgado is now charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, as reported by WJON. The outlet reports that a Stearns County sheriff’s deputy saw three men attacking the victim in a parking lot in the 1500 block of Northway Drive shortly after 1 p.m. last Thursday. When law enforcement moved in, all three suspects ran. Court records state one of the men dropped a box cutter as they fled, and officers then met with the injured man, who had visible facial lacerations.
Court documents say the victim told officers he recognized La Torre Delgado and identified him as the person wielding the box cutter, WJON reports. He said he was walking out of a business when three men jumped him in the lot and began assaulting him. Authorities have not publicly named the other two men or announced any additional arrests.
Booking history shows prior contact
Public booking records list a Keniel La-Torre-Delgado in Stearns County on Jan. 15 for a driving-after-revocation charge, according to Arrests.org. Those records indicate earlier encounters with local law enforcement, separate from the new assault allegation. The current felony count was filed by Stearns County prosecutors, according to local reporting.
What the charge carries
Under Minnesota law, second-degree assault involving a dangerous weapon is a felony that can carry a sentence of up to seven years in prison, with tougher penalties possible if the victim suffers substantial bodily harm. The elements of the offense and maximum penalties are laid out in Minnesota Statutes §609.222.
Investigation status and next steps
With the felony charge now formally filed against Delgado, the case moves into the standard Stearns County court process, where arraignment and future hearing dates will be set. As of the latest reports, investigators have not publicly identified or charged the two other men allegedly involved in the attack. Updates are expected as the case proceeds through district court and more information becomes available in public records.
