A young life has been dramatically altered, and a family has found itself in crisis after a violent ambush at the Edina YMCA, where 16-year-old Elroi Beyene was severely injured by a group of his fellow Edina High School students. Elroi, a hardworking teen who had been employed part-time, now faces long-term physical and mental challenges following the December 20, 2024, attack that occurred on the basketball court in the YMCA located at 7300 York Avenue S.
Elroi’s mother, Abeba Guche, shared the painful details of the assault in a heartfelt message on a GoFundMe page created to raise funds for her son’s recovery. “Three weeks later, he is still struggling physically and mentally,” Guche wrote, describing the multiple injuries her son sustained, including brain damage, a cut below his eye, bruising, and the emotional scars from the assault. “I am a single mom, and Elroi was working part-time and is now unable to work under doctor’s orders,” she continued. “I have had to cut my hours in order to care for him and take him to follow-up appointments.”
The attack has had a devastating effect on the Beyene family, not only physically and emotionally but financially as well, as mounting medical bills for Elroi’s treatment are becoming overwhelming.
Six Arrested, Charges Filed Against Two Teens
As of the most recent reports, six arrests have been made in connection with the attack. Police have arrested five teens, including three in Edina and one in Bloomington, with a sixth suspect turning himself in. Two of the arrested teens, aged 15 and 16, have been charged in connection with the assault, which police have described as a “planned attack” that occurred around 6 p.m. on December 20.
Beyene reportedly showed signs of a declining mental state and difficulty with his memory prior to being hospitalized, further indicating the severity of his injuries. The physical toll of the attack, combined with the mental strain, has left Elroi with an uncertain future, and his mother is doing everything in her power to care for him through this difficult journey.
A Community United in Support
Abeba Guche is seeking help from the community as she navigates her son’s recovery and the financial burden that has accompanied it. “I appreciate the community support,” she said in a statement on the GoFundMe page, which has already begun to raise funds to assist with medical costs and other expenses.
As of now, the family’s priority is Elroi’s healing, but they face daily challenges as they wait for his physical and mental recovery. Elroi’s story is a stark reminder of the violence that sometimes plagues our communities—violence that can leave lasting scars, not just on the victim, but on families and communities as a whole.
For those who wish to support Elroi’s journey to recovery, donations can be made through the GoFundMe campaign: Elroi’s Journey to Recovery Needs You.
In times of hardship, it is the collective strength of a community that can lift individuals back up. Let us stand with Elroi and his family as they work toward healing, both physically and mentally, after a senseless act of violence that should have never occurred.
Result of open enrollment. Although students, none were from Edina, even though the article would want you to believe they were.