Sammy Kimbrough, 45, was attacked by a group of teenagers while attending the Minnesota State Fair with friends last Saturday, according to his fiancée, Heather Hoffman. The altercation reportedly began when a teenage boy engaged Kimbrough in a heated verbal exchange before punching him, after which several others joined in, kicking him in the face. Kimbrough suffered serious jaw fractures requiring reconstructive surgery, and the couple, who are currently planning their wedding, now face a long recovery period.

Fair police were called to the scene at 9.48pm, but the attackers had fled and have not been identified; no weapons were reported to have been used. Kimbrough was treated at an on-site medical facility for two days before undergoing surgery, and he still faces weeks unable to chew food or work. A GoFundMe has been set up by his friend to help cover medical costs, while Minnesota State Fair Police, which deployed around 190 officers during the 12-day event, continue to investigate. This year's fair drew nearly 1.92 million visitors, its seventh-highest attendance on record.