A street assault in St. Paul that left a 66-year-old man unconscious in January has now turned fatal, and the case hanging over the 22-year-old attacker could be about to change.
Authorities say Thomas Stockstill, 66, was hit on Jan. 30, knocked out, and never woke up. He has since died from his injuries. The man accused of throwing the punch, 22-year-old James Sprowles, has already pleaded guilty to an assault charge and is set to be sentenced in the coming days. Stockstill’s death is raising fresh questions about whether prosecutors will move to upgrade the charge.
According to KARE 11, officers found Stockstill unconscious after the punch, and he remained unresponsive throughout his time in the hospital. The outlet reports that Sprowles was arrested earlier this year on an assault charge. KARE 11 also notes it is working to determine whether Stockstill’s May death will affect how prosecutors handle the case.
Legal implications if the death is tied to the assault
If prosecutors can show that the January punch substantially contributed to Stockstill’s death, Minnesota law would allow them to pursue more serious charges. The state’s homicide statutes spell out second- and third-degree murder and several levels of manslaughter, each carrying different potential penalties, according to Minnesota Statutes. Any decision to upgrade charges would depend on medical findings, proof of causation, and the judgment of the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office.
Local precedent and how this could play out
Prosecutors in the area have gone this route before when assault victims later died. In one recent example, the Star Tribune reported in April 2024 that a teenager’s charge was upgraded to manslaughter after a 76-year-old St. Paul man died weeks after being punched. That case shows how a medical examiner’s findings can reshape a prosecution and offers a roadmap for how investigators and the county attorney might respond if Stockstill’s death is formally linked to the January attack.
Sprowles’ sentencing on the current assault conviction is expected in the coming days. Any move to modify the charge would likely surface in new court filings or through a public announcement from the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. This story will be updated as officials release additional information.
