ELY, Minn. - A college student here suffered non-life-threatening injuries when his roommate slashed his throat with a knife after an argument in their dorm last week, authorities said.
Michael Mathias Connelly, 20, admitted to inflicting the Jan. 27 attack, which was precipitated by a dispute about smoking in a Vermillion Community College dorm room, according to a criminal complaint.
Connelly, 20, was arraigned Monday in State District Court in Virginia on one count of attempted second-degree murder and two counts of second-degree assault.
Sixth Judicial District Judge Gary Pagliaccetti set bail at $250,000. He also ordered that Connelly undergo a mental health evaluation before the case proceeds.
According to the criminal complaint, officers were called to the college, 1900 E. Camp St., at 11:20 p.m. on the report of an assault.
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The 21-year-old victim, identified only by initials M.S., was being loaded into an ambulance and a pool of blood was found on the dorm room floor.
A "visibly upset" Connelly was present and admitted that he was involved in the assault, telling officers that he had cut the victim with a folding knife. Connelly said he was a friend of the victim and that they had been living together for only about a week.
The defendant reported that M.S. had been upset and yelling at him for smoking in the dorm room earlier in the day. Connelly said he was aggravated and went to bed before he decided to get up and cut the victim, who was seated in the dorm at the time.
"Something just came over me," he allegedly told officers. "It was like my thought just stopped after something in me made the decision to get up and cut him."
Connelly said he grabbed M.S. by the head and made a swiping motion across the victim's neck with the knife before a struggle ensued.
The victim told police that he was able to get away after the initial swipe and that Connelly again lunged at him but he was able to grab the knife with his hand. He said Connelly also head-butted him twice.
The victim reported that Connelly told him, "I'm sorry for trying to kill you," and left the room after someone began pounding on the door.
Police said Connelly was crying when approached by officers and asked if the victim was still alive. He stated that he was off his normal medications. He said he had never been in an argument with M.S. before, but acknowledged that the thought of killing him entered his mind during the incident.
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Medical records indicated that the victim suffered a six-inch laceration from his neck to his chin, requiring 19 stitches. He also had a chipped front tooth and a cut to his right hand. He was treated and released from Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital.
Court records indicate that Connelly has no criminal history outside of traffic offenses and a 2014 petty misdemeanor conviction for possession of drug paraphernalia.
