Northfield, Minn. — A man from the Twin Cities area has been sentenced to prison following a violent attack on his former girlfriend at St. Olaf College. The incident, which occurred in May 2022, left four individuals injured, prompting a lengthy legal process resulting in a plea deal.
William Davis Schulenberg, 23, of Excelsior, entered Ytterboe Hall through a window during a party and immediately assaulted a young woman with a hammer. According to court documents, he struck her multiple times in the head and stabbed her in the neck. His actions escalated as three others attempted to intervene; he attacked two of them with the hammer and cut another with a knife.
Originally faced with charges that included first-degree attempted murder, Schulenberg’s legal circumstances shifted when he accepted a plea agreement. This deal amended one count of second-degree assault to attempted second-degree murder and added an additional first-degree assault charge along with two more counts of second-degree assault. In exchange for his conviction on the assault charges, the more serious murder-related counts were dropped.
The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office took up the prosecution at the request of the Rice County Attorney’s Office, signifying the gravity of the case. After the plea deal, Schulenberg was handed a sentence of 91 months in prison, reflecting the severity of his actions on that fateful night.
The violent encounter, which took place over three years ago, underscores ongoing concerns regarding campus safety and the impact of domestic violence. Although the case has reached a legal conclusion, its ramifications are likely to be felt within the college community for years to come.