A 30-year-old Bloomington man is facing attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault charges after prosecutors say he stabbed his sleeping roommate with a kitchen knife, leaving him with a punctured bowel and injuries so severe that surgeons needed six hours to repair the damage. Antonio Baumgartner was arrested at the scene of an unrelated break-in with blood still visible on his pants, according to charges filed in Hennepin County District Court.
According to kstp.com, the criminal complaint alleges Baumgartner stabbed his roommate without warning after the victim was startled awake by pounding on his bedroom door. The victim told police he was asleep inside the home he shared with Baumgartner when the attack began, and that Baumgartner used a kitchen knife, as detailed in the complaint filed Oct. 30, per MN Crime.
Bloomington police officers responded to the 2800 block of 96th Street West and found the victim in the garage, a towel wrapped around his arm, covered in blood and in significant distress, per the same account. Officers observed deep lacerations on the man's forearm and inner bicep, while paramedics noted a deep stomach laceration with part of his bowel protruding, the station's report states.
Surgery and a Frantic Phone Call
The victim's injuries were described as life-threatening, and he required six hours of surgery because of the damage, the complaint says. The victim told police the stabbing took place at their residence on the 2400 block of 97th Street West, according to the report.
Baumgartner fled after the attack, and investigators later learned he may have gone to a relative's home, per the complaint. That lead reportedly did not pan out — he was not located there. Instead, Baumgartner was arrested at the scene of a separate break-in, where officers noted visible blood on his pants.
Sister Described Concern Before the Attack
A family member told police that Baumgartner called her around 2:20 a.m. and asked to be picked up, saying, “I've had it with this place,” the station reported. The relative also told investigators she knew Baumgartner had been using drugs earlier that night and was concerned about him, according to the complaint.
Baumgartner remained in custody as of Friday under a $1 million bail order, with no-contact conditions barring him from reaching the victim or returning to the address, per the report. He is scheduled for a first appearance in Hennepin County District Court on Monday.
