Grand jury indicts Radford University student on second-degree murder charge

Erik S. Czajkowski

A Radford University student has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with a man's death three weeks ago.

Erik Stevens Czajkowski, 24, was indicted by a Radford grand jury that met Friday, city police Lt. Andy Wilburn said Monday.

Czajkowski had originally been charged with aggravated malicious wounding in the death of Michael Allen Duncan, of Radford.

Duncan, 39, was found the night of Aug. 19 on the sidewalk near the Radford Farmers Market with a severe head injury.

Wilburn has said witnesses reported that Duncan had been assaulted.

Duncan was taken to Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, then flown to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he later died.

Wilburn has said Duncan never regained consciousness and police were unable to interview him.

Wilburn said he doesn't believe any weapons were involved.

Czajkowski had turned himself in to police Aug. 24 when he was charged with aggravated malicious wounding, but he was released on bond.

He was arrested again Friday at his home in Chesterfield County and is being held without bond, Wilburn said.

He said Czajkowski will be returned to Radford this week.

A court date has not been set.

"After careful consideration of the facts surrounding the case, it was decided to present the case to a grand jury to consider if second-degree murder was appropriate," Wilburn said. "They agreed and returned the indictment as a true bill."

It will be up to the commonwealth's attorney to decide whether to drop the malicious wounding charge, Wilburn said.

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