Andrew Hayek, a 22-year-old man who was allegedly beaten by Minnesota Vikings running back Caleb King, is "up and moving and doing better" after being treated for a fractured skull and facial injuries that included 50 stitches and having his nose "completely reconstructed," his sister told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Hayek remained hospitalized Sunday in Oak Grove, Minn., while King, a former University of Georgia standout, remained in custody at the Anoka County jail. He has not been charged.
Hayek's sister, Jenny Eagle, said the alleged victim arrived at a birthday party in Oak Grove, Minn., at around 10 p.m. Friday. Hayek did not know King, but their female companions were friends, Eagle, who was not at the party, told the Star Tribune. Hayek and King "were pretty chummy until they left" the party, Eagle said she was told. When Hayek told King around 3:15 a.m. Saturday that he resembled Eddie Murphy, the mood changed dramatically, Eagle said she was told.
Anoka County sheriff's deputies said when Hayek went outside to wait for a ride home, King followed him and punched him in the face. Hayek got into the car, locked the passenger door and called 911, but King allegedly opened the driver's door and pulled the man out. King is accused of punching Hayak repeatedly and throwing him headfirst to the ground.
King, from Norcross, was arrested without incident. He denied assaulting the man and told detectives Hayek fell to the ground when King was talking to him.
Eagle said that hospital staff told her family that it could be two weeks before physicians would know the effect of any infection or swelling of the brain.
"Andrew is a Vikings fan," his sister told the Star Tribune, "but probably not any more."
It's the latest off-the-field issue for King, a highly touted recruit at Georgia who ran into several problems during his college career. He was arrested for failing to appear for a court date on a speeding ticket and declared academically ineligible in his final year at Georgia and went undrafted in the supplemental draft before signing with the Vikings.
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