Muslim Beats a Man with a Tire Iron for Insulting Islam

A 47-year-old Wausau man, seen here, was attacked and beaten with a tire iron Friday afternoon, according to the Wausau Police Department. / Xai Kha/Wausau Daily Herald

A Wausau man was hospitalized Friday after he was attacked and beaten with a tire iron in what witnesses said was an argument over religion, according to police.

The incident occurred shortly before 4 p.m. in the 600 block of Jefferson Street in Wausau. Two men began arguing, and a 47-year-old Wausau man was struck in the head with a tire iron, Wausau Police Lt. Matt Barnes said Friday night. Police had not released the identity of the victim Friday night.

Barnes said the suspect knows the victim, but he could not comment Friday night on what provoked the argument.

A witness told a Wausau Daily Herald reporter at the scene that he was sitting on the back porch of a home when the suspect pulled up in his vehicle, got out and accused the victim of criticizing his Islamic religion.

The victim denied that he had been critical of Islam, but the suspect then grabbed a tire iron, hit the victim in the head and punched him before speeding off in his vehicle, witnesses said.

A second witness, Bakonn Jackson, told the Daily Herald reporter she saw the entire incident, including the tire iron attack.

Although police have a lead on the suspect's identity, he was not in custody Friday night and the incident still was under investigation, Barnes said.

Barnes added that "it is unusual when an argument ends with the use of a tire iron, but it's not unheard of."