An Omaha man is facing serious criminal charges after police say he choked and punched a victim so severely that witnesses feared they were watching someone die.
Zak Strong, 33, of Omaha, has been charged with attempted murder following an April 29 incident in Le Mars. Police were called to a local hospital just before noon after a victim and witness reported a violent assault.
What officers observed at the hospital tells a disturbing story.
When officers arrived at the emergency room, they noted the victim had blood on their nose and in their mouth, a torn earlobe, and visible marks on the neck consistent with strangulation — injuries that painted a clear picture of what had allegedly taken place.
The witness and victim described a man completely out of control.
According to police, Strong had allegedly been “choking out” the victim while simultaneously punching them. He also reportedly told the victim directly that he was going to kill them.
Perhaps most chilling was what the witness and victim told investigators — that Strong “was in such a rage that they honestly felt the victim was going to die.” Officers noted that the fear described by both individuals was clearly visible in their demeanor as they spoke with police inside the emergency room.
The charges reflect just how close this may have come to a fatal outcome.
Based on the nature of the injuries and the accounts provided, investigators concluded that Strong’s actions could have caused the death of another person. An attempted murder warrant was subsequently filed.
Court documents show Strong has a court appearance scheduled for May 21. No arrest date has been publicly disclosed.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.
