A NFL star has been accused of almost beating a man to death after he was teased about looking like Eddie Murphy.
Caleb King, a Minnesota Vikings running back, is being held on assault charges after the attack that might have left his 22-year-old victim with a serious facial injuries.
King, 24, is alleged to have taken exception to a remark made by Andrew Hayek at a birthday party they were attending in Oak Grove, a suburb of Minnesota, at the weekend.
Hayek is alleged to have joked that King looked like Hollywood star Eddie Murphy.
According to a police report King followed Hayek out to a car and hit him in the face.
Mugshot: Caleb King has a history of off-field troubles that began when he was a High School star at three
Hayek climbed into the vehicle and locked the passenger side door in an attempt to escape while dialing 911 for help.
King is alleged to have got into the car through the unlocked driver's door and pulled Hayek out and thrown him head first to the ground before beating him with his fists.
Other guests took the badly injured Hayek inside the house but refused to call for an ambulance.
Police were able to trace Hayek from the 911 call he made before being assaulted and rushed him to hospital.
Hayek's injuries included a fractured skull and a nose that was so severely damaged that he had to have it completely restructured.
Surgeons had to insert more than 50 stitches in his face wounds.
King told deputies no punches were thrown and that Hayek 'simply fell to the ground when [he] was talking to him'.
Sandra Arellano, who is Hayek's legal guardian said one more punch would have killed him.
