Submitted photo of Colton Gleason
GREENFIELD, Minn. -- Julie and John Gleason always knew they wanted a family. But they didn't know how painful being a parent could get.
"You should never watch your baby die. You shouldn't have to do it that," John said.
On Thursday, their youngest son Colton and two of his friends were walking down an alley on 8th and 9th Avenues South in St. Cloud when a car pulled up with several people inside. One person from the car approached Colton and hit him in the head, according to police. Colton fell backwards and struck his head again. He died of head trauma on Friday and police have no clue who did it.
Colton was the heart beat of the Gleason family. The 20-year-old lived for adventure.
But wherever his adventures took him he always came home to see his parents in Greenfield.
"He had an amazing smile and he would just grab you into his arms and hold you and he was such a strong boy when he grabbed on to you it was like you had nothing to worry about," John said.
Colton's parents thought they had nothing to worry about when he said he was going to visit friends in St. Cloud.
"We just hugged him the night before. Gave him a big hug and told him to be," Julie said.
St. Cloud police chief Blair Anderson said they only have a vague description of the suspect. But Anderson said the car involved in the incident is described as a light colored 4-door mid to full size older vehicle.
A reward is being offered for information.
(Copyright 2012 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)