Louisville man charged in overnight assault; victim in critical condition

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A man is in critical condition after an overnight assault was reported in downtown Louisville, and police have a suspect in custody.

Louisville Metro Police officers were dispatched to the 400 block of East Market Street shortly before 2 a.m. Tuesday after a report of a fight in the area. Officers arrived to the scene and found a man suffering from significant injuries to the head from an assault.

EMS transported the victim to UofL Hospital with "critical and life-threatening injuries."

Police said witnesses told officers the suspect told the victim to "leave his country" before hitting the victim in the head multiple times with a wooden two-by-four.

The suspect then kicked the victim several times before fleeing the location, police said.

LMPD's Homicide Unit was notified due the severity of the injuries.

Police said officers canvassing the area located a subject matching the suspect description near the scene who had suspected blood on his shoes.

Authorities identified the suspect as 49-year-old Julius Howard, and detained him. Howard admitted to fighting with the victim.

Howard was charged with first-degree assault and booked into Louisville Metro Department of Corrections.

The investigation is ongoing.