Minneapolis man allegedly attacked apartment manager with axe after lease not renewed

Hennepin County prosecutors have charged Ying Vang Jr., 59, with attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault for allegedly attacking the property manager where he was living.

According to court documents, Vang had an axe and a sledgehammer with him and used them to break down the office door. A manager was there at the time and informed Vang that his lease would not be renewed.

Vang lived in an apartment complex on the 4400 block of Snelling Avenue in south Minneapolis.

According to court documents, investigators say Vang “pushed the victim against a wall and struck him in the face and neck with an axe in one blow” before other residents rushed to help the manager and detained the suspect.

“It makes me feel good. They took him outside first, stopped the assault and sat on him until the police arrived. I’m proud of those guys. We need people like that,” said fellow resident Michael, who wanted to use only his first name.

According to the police version of the incident, the woman’s wound extended from below the eye to the lower part of the neck, and the axe also severed her carotid artery.

“We are grateful that our team member is recovering from this horrific incident and are incredibly grateful to our tenants for stepping in and restraining the attacker until police arrived and took him into custody. We are in the process of personally thanking each of them,” a spokesperson for Ecumen, which manages the complex, wrote.

At last check, Vang was being held at the Hennepin County Jail.

The next court hearing will be held at the end of this month.