Online Fundraiser Started For Good Thunder Hammer Assualt Victim

An online fundraiser has been started for a rural Good Thunder man who was viciously attacked with a hammer last week. Arnold “Arnie” Lillo, age 83, is “doing amazing,” according to his friend Robin Block, who set up the Go Fund Me page for Lillo, which has raised over $5,000.

The incident began around 12:30 p.m. in rural Good Thunder, south of Mankato, when Lillo called police to report he’d been hit in the head with a hammer multiple times by an acquaintance. Lillo identified the suspect as Brandon Lee McMurtrey, 34, of Evan.  Police say they also received information that McMurtrey was armed with a handgun.

Lillo was able to drive himself to a neighbor’s home for help after McMurtrey left the scene. Area law enforcement eventually located McMurtrey’s truck near Sleepy Eye at Brown Co roads 25 & 11.  Police say McMurtrey refused to stop, leading deputies on a high-speed chase with speeds around 100 miles per hour.  The chase eventually landed on Highway 15, and ended when McMurtrey collided head-on with a semi stopped on the shoulder of the highway to yield to the emergency vehicles.

McMurtrey was extricated from the pickup and is hospitalized with serious injuries.