Couple breakup leads to felony assault, arrest

A breakup between two IU students led to a physical altercation involving a knife, a pair of scissors and lighter fluid.

Resident assistants called the IU Police Department just before 3 p.m. Sunday in response to a violent argument on the 12th floor of Eigenmann Hall, IUPD Chief Keith Cash said.

Yuantong Yang, 19, had allegedly argued with his ex-girlfriend, also 19, in his dorm room.
The alleged victim told police Yang had threatened her with a knife, Cash said. She said he doused her with lighter fluid and threatened to set her hair and face on fire.

Yang grabbed a pair of scissors and attempted to cut her, and she grabbed the scissors from him. He bit her hand to try to get the scissors back, and she cut her hand when he took them from her. The victim ran and hid in another room in Eigenmann until IU police arrived, Cash said.

The police called an ambulance for the victim and treated her injuries, though Cash said she was not taken to the hospital.

Yang was arrested and booked into Monroe County Jail for A-misdemeanor battery with injury, Class D felony criminal recklessness while armed with a deadly weapon and Class C felony intimidation with a deadly weapon.

— Mary Kenney