Minnesota is in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons this week, after a deeply disturbing video out of Red Wing began circulating online, showing what appears to be a brutal and racist attack by a supposed caregiver on a paralyzed patient. This isn’t just a case of workplace misconduct. It’s a full-blown human rights violation, and people across the internet are horrified.
In a quiet Minnesota town with a peaceful reputation. But inside one patient’s bedroom, something unthinkable happened. A Certified Nursing Assistant, now identified as a man named Tavian from Ellsworth, Wisconsin, was filmed hurling slurs and physically assaulting the person he was paid to care for. The victim? A Black, paralyzed patient who was completely defenseless.
In the viral video, Tavian is seen calling his patient the N-word. When the patient calls him out, Tavian doubles down with shocking arrogance, shouting: “In the United States of America, I can say whatever the f*** I want, you dumb piece of sh*t!” The video ends there, but sadly, the abuse didn’t.
Minnesota Nurse Caught Abusing Paralyzed Patient
According to multiple reports, this wasn’t a one-time outburst. Tavian allegedly admitted to choking, assaulting, and torturing the patient on multiple occasions, sometimes during transfers when the patient was physically most vulnerable. One of the most horrifying details? He reportedly inflated rubber gloves with his breath and forced the air into the patient’s lungs, a sickening move that sounds straight out of a psychological thriller, not a real-life Minnesota care facility.
It didn’t take long for Tavian’s employers to act. The moment the video gained traction, Tavian was fired from his role as a Personal Care Assistant. Clearly, Minnesota wants nothing to do with this man now. “Wow, thinks he’s so tough for bullying a helpless old person, I question what can make someone so cold,” one Reddit user said. “Psychopaths, they’re a different breed,” another wrote.
Law enforcement is now investigating the incident, though many online are rightfully skeptical about whether justice will be served. Unfortunately, this kind of abuse isn’t as rare as we’d like to think, especially in caregiving environments where patients often have no voice and no ability to defend themselves.
What’s making this case hit harder for people is the obvious racially motivated hate behind it. The fact that someone like Tavian felt emboldened to spew racist slurs while physically tormenting a patient shows just how dangerous unchecked power can be, especially in spaces where trust is supposed to be the foundation.
The Internet Is Shocked By The Situation
Online, reactions have ranged from shock and anger to deeper concern. Some are calling for criminal charges and prison time, while others are pointing to a bigger issue. How many other Tavians are out there? And how many patients are suffering in silence?
There’s also talk about whether Tavian will try to grift his way out of accountability with a sketchy online fundraiser, something that has sadly become a trend among abusers looking to cash in on controversy. One can only hope that if prison is in his future, no GoFundMe campaign will save him from it.
As the case unfolds, Minnesota residents and the rest of the nation will be watching closely. Because in a state known for its community spirit, there’s zero tolerance for hate, especially when it’s masked as healthcare.
Kenna Raye 
Nina Franklin 
Kendra Quinn 
