Family says son’s suspected involvement in WSU professor beating a ‘misunderstanding’

Police in Pullman are still looking for people to come forward with more information about the fight that left a Washington State University professor hospitalized in serious condition two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, the family of one of the suspects is calling the case a giant misunderstanding.

Matt Soriano and Robert Bean turned themselves in to police on Friday and both were released after making their initial court appearances.

The two are likely going to be charged with assault in the attack on WSU professor David Warner, along with two others.

But Soriano’s family says this is all a misunderstanding, and it wants the truth to come out. ”

“He (Matt Soriano) did not touch, he did not tackle Mr. Warner. They did not touch the professor or Mr. McDonald,” Soriano’s mother Katherine tells KREM. She alleges it was Warner’s friend, Lawrence McDonald, that started the whole thing.

Katherine Soriano claims McDonald was drunk and making inappropriate comments toward people coming out of the bar, including Soriano’s friend Madeline Fouts, who was also arrested in the case.

“Mr. McDonald was very intoxicated, what I heard, was very rowdy – making a fight,” says Katherine Soriano.

Soriano claims Warner stepped in front of McDonald to keep him from throwing a punch, and the two fell over each other. That’s how Warner was injured. Prosecutors confirm that McDonald was drunk – so much so he says he can’t remember anything after 1 a.m. that morning, but they believe punches were thrown and surveillance video backs that up.

Soriano’s father Rob says his family is praying for Warner’s recovery. “Emotionally, he’s sad about what happened. He didn’t like what happened at all to the professor. It’s sad. It’s sad for the community. It’s sad for my family.”

Police believe there are quite a few people who saw what happened or might have taking cell phone video or pictures of what happened that have yet to come forward.

Investigators also say that alcohol consumption impacted the memories of many witnesses, which is keeping them from getting a complete detailing of events.

Professor Warner suffered a significant head injury during the attack. He remains in serious condition.