Two teens and four young adults from western Iowa have been charged in connection with a break-in and brutal assault. Six people from the Atlantic, Brayton and Audubon areas are alleged to have forced their way into the home of Mitchell Thompson, in Exira, on May ninth.
Audubon County Sheriff Todd Johnson says one of the home’s residents was struck in the head with the claw-end of a hammer and was taken to a local hospital before being airlifted to a hospital in Des Moines. The victim, Randi Shafer, was diagnosed with a concussion and later released. Thompson was knocked down and choked to the point of unconsciousness. His son, 17-year old C-J Benton, was also injured.
Charged with first-degree burglary and willful injury were 17-year olds Amanda Thompson and Ashley Mayo, 18-year old Andrew Nickum, 19-year old Hillary Ferrell, 21-year old Wayne Schwab and 28-year old Mike Porter. It’s not clear what relationship was between the assailants and their victims.