Prior Lake Man Cited 'Self Defense' In Deadly Tubing Attack: Complaint

ST. CROIX COUNTY, WI — The 52-year-old Prior Lake, Minnesota man charged in the death of a teenager tubing down a Wisconsin river claims he was acting in self-defense, according to the criminal complaint.

Nicolae Miu was charged Monday with one count of first-degree intentional homicide and four counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide in the Saturday attack on Apple River in Somerset Township. A 17-year-old from Stillwater was killed in the attack, and four others tubing with him were injured, authorities said.

The boy who was killed was identified by his family as Isaac Schuman. "Isaac was the light of the family and the brightest star," reads a GoFundMe page established for his family.

"He was an honor roll student. He was driven and determined to be successful. He was smart, kind, a great friend, brother, cousin and most of all son. He had the biggest heart, which he shared with many. He entered every room with a big smile, infectiously positive aura and lifted everyone around him."

Schuman was heading into his senior year at Stillwater High School, his family told KARE 11.

The survivors — all in their 20s — are now in stable condition, authorities said.

The criminal complaint depicts a confrontation between Miu and the group before a gruesome killing that police said was captured on video.

Witnesses said a man — later identified as Miu — was bothering a group of juveniles on their tubes and they yelling for help, according to the criminal complaint. A second group of people came and stood in between Miu and the group of juveniles, and told him to leave, police said.

Miu told the police he was in the river wearing a snorkel, looking for a lost cell phone and was asking around if anyone had seen it, the complaint states.

A video of the interaction captures someone saying that Miu "was looking for little girls," according to police. A fight broke out after Miu punched a female, authorities said. A male then punched Miu, and he fell into the water, authorities said.

Witness said Miu then began stabbing people who were near him, using a knife with a three-inch silver blade, according to investigators.

In the criminal complaint, Miu is quoted telling police that "they attacked me" and "I was in self-defense mode."

Among the survivors is Ryhley Mattison, 24, of Burnsville.

"Some friends and I were tubing when we came a crossed a group who were asking for our help," Mattison wrote on her GoFundMe page. "My friends and I went over to see what was going on and there was an older man there being inappropriate and was asked to leave but wouldn’t. The older man ended up having a knife and stabbed a few friends of mine and myself included."

Mattison said she has "no way of paying for these medical bills and I’m struggling making ends meet right now."

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