Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
Crime, Law and Justice
Martin Moylan
Minneapolis

Former Minneapolis student sentenced for attack that nearly killed teaching assistant

Victim says Corey Burfield's one year jail sentence is too soft

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Corey David Burfield
Corey Burfield is a former student at a Minneapolis alternative school. He was sentenced Thursday for violently attacking his teacher.
Hennepin County Jail

A Hennepin County judge on Thursday sentenced a former Minneapolis high school student to one year in jail and five years of probation for a violent assault that almost killed a teaching assistant.

Corey Burfield attacked Mohammed Dukuly at the Harrison Education Center in Minneapolis last year.

State prosecutor Jason Heaser sought an 86-month sentence for the crime.

“Mohammed Dukuly … was without a pulse and not breathing,” Heaser told judge William Koch. “Without the miracle of modern medicine, he would have died.”

But the judge decided the state’s proposed sentence was too severe. He said the sentence he handed down reflects Burfield’s decision to plead guilty, his age at the time of the attack and mental health struggles. Burfield had recently turned 18, and has struggled with autism and other mental health and behavioral issues.

Mohammed Dukuly, a teaching assistant at Harrison Education Center
Mohammed Dukuly, a teaching assistant at Harrison Education Center, was attacked by former student Corey Burfield in 2018. Burfield was sentenced Thursday.
Minneapolis Public Schools

“I’m not going to send you to prison now,” the judge told Burfield. “I hope I never send you to prison. That will depend on your behavior.” And he added, “You are fortunate HCMC and the University of Minnesota were able to essentially perform a miracle.”

Burfield will be allowed to leave jail for work, school and counseling.

Dukuly said the sentence was too light.

“The decision today was not fair for what happened to me,” he said. “He (Burfield) should have gone to prison for some time to set a deterrence to protect the education environment.”

Dukuly told the judge he is in constant pain and has difficulty walking. He said he believes Burfield's attack was premeditated and racially motivated. Dukuly is an immigrant from Liberia; Burfield is white.