Friday January 26, 2024
By Lou Raguse
New charges of riot and assault motivated by bias allege three African American adults targeted Somali students in brawls inside and outside the high school.
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — When Latoys Milon, 41, sat down with KARE 11 News along with her 16-year daughter for an interview last week, the pair said the high school junior was "jumped" by a fellow student over a personal beef, leading to fights in the St. Louis Park High School hallway and outside in the parking lot.
School officials canceled classes for all students Friday as they worked to find out exactly what happened.
Now, according to a criminal complaint, video evidence contradicted Milon's claims, alleging her 19-year-old son Jerome Smith was involved in the initial altercation. Jerome Smith, his 22-year-old sister Abreeha, and Milon — who are African American — are now all charged with fourth-degree assault motivated by bias against Somali students as well as third-degree riot.
When Milon arrived at St. Louis Park High School at 2:14 p.m. on Jan. 18, she claimed her daughter was jumped by multiple Somali females. While speaking with the assistant principal and St. Louis Park officer Stanikka Alcantara, Milon allegedly began threatening students. The complaint says body camera footage captured her saying:
“Ya’ll one of ‘em? Girl I swear to God all y’all finna get it!”
“I’ll fight any Somali that comes down those stairs, bro.”
“These Somalians think they running s***, but they met their match.”
Also in the criminal complaint, Milon and her family allegedly started attacking Somali students outside the high school by punching, stomping and choking them.
One victim, who said he was confused why the group targeted him other than that he was Somali, told police he thought he was going to lose consciousness after the group jumped him and began hitting.
Regarding the initial fight within the school, which Milon claimed her 16-year-old daughter was targeted, the complaint states surveillance video showed the high school junior voluntarily entering the fight at one point and throwing punches at another girl.
The charges are gross misdemeanors charged by the St. Louis Park city attorney. The family is not in custody.