A federal jury has convicted 45-year-old Kyle Lee Dean of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury for a violent knife attack on the L’Anse Reservation earlier this year, authorities announced.
The attack occurred on January 20, 2024, when Dean went to a residence within the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community and engaged in a physical altercation with the victim. The confrontation escalated, and Dean allegedly stabbed the victim nearly a dozen times. Witnesses testified that the injuries were severe enough to be fatal, and prosecutors noted that rapid intervention by first responders and medical staff saved the victim’s life.
“This office will work tirelessly to prosecute those who commit violent crimes within Indian Country,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey. “We prioritize the safety of our tribal communities and will hold offenders accountable.”
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the FBI, Michigan State Police, Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Tribal Police, and the Village of L’Anse Police.
FBI Detroit Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan called the assault “a brutal and malicious attack” and said Dean’s conviction “sends a clear message that the FBI will relentlessly pursue those who harm tribal communities.”
Dean’s case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hanna Rutkowski and Theodore Greeley, and he is scheduled for sentencing in 2026.