William Davis Schulenberg sentenced to 7.5 years for assaulting four students on St. Olaf campus with a knife and hammer

Schulenberg received a 91-month sentence for one count of assault in the first degree and three counts of assault in the second degree following May 1, 2022 attack

November 17, 2025 (SAINT PAUL) — Today, a Rice County court sentenced William Davis Schulenberg to 91 months in prison for intentionally stabbing and striking a St. Olaf student with a knife and hammer and injuring three other students when they attempted to intervene.

On May 1, 2022, Schulenberg climbed through a window into a party in a dorm on St. Olaf University Campus and attacked a young woman with a knife and hammer. Schulenberg struck the victim’s head multiple times and was pushing the blade into the victim’s neck when three other individuals intervened. As the rescuers wrestled Schulenberg away, Schulenberg struck two of them with his hammer and cut the third with his knife before being subdued.

Attorney General Ellison’s office prosecuted Schulenberg upon a referral from Rice County Attorney Brian Mortenson under Minnesota Statutes section 8.01, which provides, “Upon request of the county attorney, the attorney general shall appear in court in such criminal cases as the attorney general deems proper.” The authority vested in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office is primarily civil.  Outside of referrals submitted under section 8.01 and Medicaid fraud, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office does not have prosecuting authority over most criminal acts. That authority generally rests with city and county attorneys.

“Today, William Shulenberg faced justice for the appalling crimes he committed,” said Attorney General Ellison. “My thoughts are with the victims and their families right now, and I’m praying for their healing. Once again, I would like to extend my gratitude to the brave people who rescued the young woman from Shulenberg’s assault. They made a split-second decision to risk their own safety in defense of one of their peers, and their actions likely saved a life that day. My office and I will continue working with our partners in law enforcement all across Minnesota to prosecute crime and protect our fellow Minnesotans.”

Attorney General Ellison thanks the Northfield Police Department and the Rice County Sheriff’s Office, who assisted in the investigation and successful prosecution of this crime.