Minnesota State Fair police had reported no arrests by Wednesday morning in the assault that left Oakdale resident Sammy Kimbrough with serious jaw injuries, according to the Pioneer Press. Investigators are asking anyone with information to call 651-288-4500. FOX 9 also reported that the investigation remained active.
What is known about the reported assault
Heather Hoffman told the Pioneer Press that Kimbrough was walking with two friends when he accidentally bumped into another person. She said a verbal confrontation followed, then a group attacked Kimbrough after he was struck and went to the ground. That account has not been tested in court, and authorities have not publicly identified a suspect or described possible charges.
According to FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul, Kimbrough’s jaw was broken in two places, he spent two days at Regions Hospital and underwent reconstructive surgery. The Pioneer Press reported that he also had broken and loose teeth and was expected to need additional dental treatment.
The fair’s security system involves several agencies
The unresolved question of who may have seen or documented the assault sits within a security system that spans multiple agencies. The Minnesota State Fair says its safety plan includes the fair’s own police department as well as local, state and federal agencies, according to its media materials.
The City of Saint Paul says the fairgrounds are technically in neighboring Falcon Heights. Saint Paul firefighters, paramedics and EMTs provide emergency medical and first-aid services on the grounds, while Saint Paul police handle traffic and pedestrian control outside the fairgrounds. Those public descriptions do not establish which agency is responsible for every investigation inside, at or beyond the fair’s boundaries.
Available figures provide context, not a measure of this case
Separate figures reported by the Twin Cities show that State Fair police recorded 676 medical-call assists and nine citations or arrests during the 2026 fair, compared with 355 medical-call assists and 16 citations or arrests during the prior fair. The figures did not include reports taken by outside agencies, so they cannot show how many assaults occurred across the entire fair area or determine whether this case was included.
Broader crime data also should not be mistaken for fair-specific statistics. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension counted 1,704 aggravated assaults in Ramsey County in 2024, up from 1,650 in 2023. The figures cover the county, not the State Fair, and the bureau cautions that comparisons across years should be viewed carefully because crime classifications and reporting detail have changed.
A prior nearby incident was different
There is a documented recent example of serious violence near the fair, but it is not evidence that the incidents are connected or that assaults are increasing. The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office said three people were shot and wounded in a parking lot about one block from the fairgrounds on the last night of the 2024 State Fair. The office said the shooter later pleaded guilty to second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon. That incident involved a different year, location and alleged conduct from the reported 2026 assault.
For now, the central facts remain unresolved: no arrest had been reported, authorities had not publicly announced a suspect, and the available public data does not establish how the assault unfolded or which agency will make any charging decision. Investigators continue to seek information from witnesses.
