Nicolae Miu: Minnesota man convicted in deadly stabbing of Issac Schuman, 17, during river tubing brawl
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
MINNESOTA, Nicolae Miu, a Minnesota resident, was found guilty on Thursday for the deadly stabbing of a teenager and the assault of four others during a violent altercation on a Wisconsin river.
The jury convicted Miu on charges including first-degree reckless homicide, four counts of recklessly endangering safety, and one count of battery stemming from the 2022 stabbing spree that claimed the life of 17-year-old Isaac Schuman.
Jury rejects self-defense claim in fatal Apple River altercation
The incident unfolded on the Apple River near Somerset, Wisconsin, where Miu targeted Schuman's group after a confrontation sparked by a search for a missing cell phone.
Miu claimed "self-defense," asserting that he was taunted and falsely accused of being a pedophile by the group of young adults.
Despite Miu's assertions, the St Croix County District Court jury determined that his actions did not meet the criteria for first-degree intentional homicide.
Defense attorney Aaron Nelson expressed surprise and “respectfully disappointed” at the verdict, emphasizing the subjective nature of self-defense claims and the variability of jury perceptions.
Witnesses detail a frantic scene
The prosecution presented a narrative in which Miu, overwhelmed by anger, "snapped" during the altercation, reported the New York Post.
Witnesses testified to the chaos of the scene, where multiple individuals were stabbed or assaulted, including Alexander Martin, Dante Carlson, Anthony Carlson, Rhyley Mattison, and Madison Coen.
Coen, one of the victims, was assaulted after purportedly being punched by Miu, despite his assertion that he only pushed her away. The altercation was recorded on camera by one of Schuman's friends, offering vital evidence during the trial.
Throughout the eight-day proceedings, which featured testimony from over three dozen witnesses, including Miu himself, the prosecution argued that his actions were not those of self-defense but rather the result of unchecked rage.
“I just want to thank all our supporters, our family, law enforcement, people that have supported us that we don’t even know throughout the country, state of Minnesota, wherever," said Donny Hernandez, spokesperson for the victims’ families.
“It’s been 21 months we’ve been waiting for justice for Isaac Michael Schuman and we got it today, so I just want to tell everybody I appreciate all your love and support."
With the conviction secured, Miu faces a substantial prison sentence of over 100 years, pending sentencing at a later date.
