Wisconsin Student From Saudi Arabia Dies After Assault

A University of Wisconsin-Stout student from Saudi Arabia died Monday after he was assaulted on a street in downtown Menomonie, according to police. Hussain Saeed Alnahdi, 24, was a junior majoring in business administration. He enrolled in UW-Stout in 2015, according to the school.

On Sunday at about 2:11 a.m., the Menomonie Police Department was dispatched downtown on a report of a physical altercation. Upon arrival, officers found Alnahdi unconscious, bleeding from his mouth and nose. Witnesses said Alnahdi was assaulted by a white male, about six feet tall, who fled the scene on foot before police arrived, according to a news release. Authorities have yet to locate the suspect.

Alnahdi was airlifted to Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, where he died Monday.

The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said on Facebook that the organization had begun "monitoring" the case and is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator of the deadly attack.

Linda Bark, who taught Alnahdi English as a second language at Stout, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he was "very popular, very well liked."

"He was eager to learn, an avid student," Bark added. "He wanted to be an actuary. He had goals."

Many students, faculty, and administrators expressed outrage and sadness at Alnahdi's death.

"Our deepest sympathies, thoughts and prayers go out to Hussain’s family in Buraydah, Saudi Arabia, and his friends at UW-Stout," said UW-Stout Chancellor Bob Meyer in a statement addresses to the university.

"I want to make a personal appeal to anyone on campus or in the community who might have information that would help authorities locate the individual involved in the attack to come forward."

"It is difficult to find the right words in light of such of a tragedy, except to express our sorrow for all who knew Hussain," said UW System President Ray Cross.

"We thank the Menomonie Police Department as it continues its investigation and hope the perpetrator can be identified soon."

Anyone with information about the assault is asked to call the Menomonie police investigator Kelly Pollock at (715) 231-8511.

Image via University of Wisconsin-Stout