SEMO player in fight had cuts to bone

A football player for Southeast Missouri State University involved in a bathroom brawl Monday had to have surgery to close cuts on his arm that went down to the bone.

Freshman wide receiver Richard Samuel was attacked in the bathroom of Magill Hall by another freshman, said his mother, Christa Samuel. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. after a computer class the two had together.

Criminal charges had not been filed as of Wednesday evening, and no one was in custody. The university's judicial board is reviewing the case.

"We're not sure why the kid started fighting Richard in the bathroom. When I try to talk to my son, he gets a little emotional," said Christa Samuel, who drove from Wimberley, Texas, when she heard about the altercation.

Richard Samuel was recovering Wednesday in his dorm room and was not available for comment.

Christa Samuel said her son tried to talk to the other student to see why the other student "had a problem with him" and that "the other student asked to meet him in the bathroom."

An incident report released Wednesday by the university department of public safety blacked out students' names and more than 50 percent of the details. It states that "[omission] had several lacerations to his face, head and right forearm. He was bleeding heavily."

The bathroom is divided into two sections, and one was "splattered with blood on all four walls and the floor. The floor length, milk glass window on the West wall was broken and pieces of glass were scattered across the floor and outside."

A statement issued by the university Monday said "one student was taken to Saint Francis Medical Center for treatment of cuts from broken window glass. He was discharged from the hospital after treatment."

No one else was in the bathroom and the other student fled before a teacher discovered Richard Samuel and called 911, Christa Samuel said.

She said his injuries were more severe than originally reported and included nerve damage to his arm, four severed tendons, and cuts on his face and the back of his head.

He isn't attending classes now and "won't be able to write for a long time," she said.

Don Kaverman, director of athletics, said Samuel walked on to the football team and that his future status regarding the football program hasn't been determined. Richard Samuel is no relation to head football coach Tony Samuel.

The Southeast Missourian is not reporting the name of the other student identified by Christa Samuel because charges have not been filed yet.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

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