Minneapolis, MN
Gymnastics Trials Accelerated “Comeback Era” for Minneapolis | TCB
Simone Biles performed her floor routine at the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials to Taylor Swift, and in the process, she helped Minneapolis come close to matching a hotel record set one year ago, when Swift’s Eras tour came to town.
Minneapolis hotels recorded more than $11.6 million in total guest room revenue last week, June 23-29, according to Meet Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Association. That’s the highest weekly revenue mark of 2024, and the highest since Swifty mania descended on Minneapolis in June 2023, also coinciding with the Twin Cities Pride Festival and resulting in $12 million in hotel revenue.
The figure released Wednesday doesn’t include Sunday, June 30, the final night of the gymnastics competition. But with one day left to tally for June, Minneapolis hotels recorded more than $40.9 million in guest revenue—a monthly figure not hit since October 2018, when the total was $41.5 million, Meet Minneapolis reported.
Hotel occupancy in Minneapolis totaled 87.5% on June 29—the 11th highest of the year. And for the week of June 23-29, hotel occupancy was the third highest since 2020, according to the convention and visitors association. Higher hotel demand weeks included March 3-9, 2024 when the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament was in town at the same time as the American Physical Society March Meeting, and August 27-Sept. 2, 2023 for the Gay Softball World Series and Minnesota State Fair.
Of course, Biles and local hotels weren’t last weekend’s only winners. Tom’s Watch Bar, just a block from Target Center, saw crowds nearly quadruple its average weekend—best since the Timberwolves were in the playoffs, operating partner Amanda Neitzke said. “Overall, I think Minneapolis is on it’s way back,” she said. “We still have a ways to go, but we’re definitely in our comeback era.” So far this year, sales at Tom’s are outpacing 2023, Neitzke said.
During the gymnastics trials, more than 60 local businesses participated in Promenade Du Nord, a Nicollet Mall activation produced by the Minnesota Sports and Events commission, in partnership with market curator Mich Berthiaume. “The energy and buzz downtown was incredible,” said Berthiaume, who teamed up with Minnesota Sports and Events on markets for the 2018 Super Bowl and, earlier this year, for the Big Ten basketball tournaments.
“Minnesota Sports and Events always focuses on our local community,” Berthiaume said. “You might not have had tickets to the gymnastics trials, but you could go downtown and have a complete experience.”
Rebecca Sansone, who owns St. Paul vintage shop The Mustache Cat, jumped at the opportunity to showcase her goods at Promenade Du Nord. “It felt like a win/win from a branding perspective. Building community is important to us and this felt aligned with what the event was doing for Minneapolis.” Sansone said the shoppers she spoke to during the four-day market were a mix of tourists and locals. “We had folks coming down to Nicollet Mall during their lunch break, gymnastics fans in their USA gear, and folks joining us before, during, and after Pride.” Focusing her event merchandise on smaller items that would be easy to pack or carry—coasters, bottle stoppers, magnets—drove a high volume of sales, she said.
Staffing a booth at a market is never easy for a small business, but fashion designer Danielle Everine said it was well worth the effort—for her brand, and for the city. “I met gymnasts, coaches, and fans from all over the world,” Everine said. “When I travel, I always seek out local markets. Promenade Du Nord gave downtown Minneapolis a little je ne sais quoi. I’d love to see a permanent artisan market in Minneapolis.”
A Minneapolis man who pleaded guilty to murdering a high school student in 2022 was sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison on Monday.
It was the second time Cody Fohrenkam was sentenced for fatally shooting 15-year-old Deshaun Hill. He was convicted and sentenced to more than 38 years in prison in February 2023, but the Minnesota Court of Appeals later reversed the conviction and granted him a retrial based on illegally obtained incriminating statements.
Fohrenkam, 33, agreed to a plea deal as his second trial was set to start, pleading guilty to one count of second-degree intentional murder in exchange for Monday’s 340-month sentence. The judge presiding over the hearing gave him credit for 1,476 days already served.
Fohrenkam shot and killed Hill while Hill was walking to a bus stop just blocks from Minneapolis North High School, where Hill was a star quarterback and honor roll student.
One of Hill’s aunts said in a statement shortly before the judge sentenced Fohrenkam that her nephew was “full of life.”
“When he spoke, you listened. He had a soft spirit and a good heart,” she said. “Deshaun was an artist who, as you all know, he took his education seriously. He had dreams and goals. He worked hard to make his family proud.”
This story will be updated.
A man is now charged with murder after prosecutors say a robbery inside a Minneapolis apartment building ended in a fatal shooting.
Prosecutors say the man was on conditional release after being charged with first-degree armed carjacking for an incident in Minneapolis last September.
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The killing happened Feb. 24 inside the Abbott Apartments lounge area on the 100 block of East 18th Street, where police found an adult man dead from gunshot wounds after reports of a shooting.
Court documents state the victim and a friend went to the building to meet 20-year-old Abdirahman Khayre Khayre. A witness stated Khayre left the room several times and appeared to be stalling before three armed men entered and demanded property. The men were described as carrying two Glock-style handguns with extended magazines and an AR-style rifle. During the robbery, the suspects demanded a Louis Vuitton bag belonging to the victim. When the victim resisted, a struggle broke out. The witness stated that two guns were taken from him during the robbery.
The witness told investigators Khayre was handed one of the stolen guns and then pointed it at him, causing him to flee into the lobby. Moments later, multiple gunshots were heard. The witness returned and found the victim shot. Surveillance footage from other areas of the building reportedly corroborated key parts of the account, and the witness later identified Khayre in a photo lineup, according to the complaint.
PREVIOUSLY: Man Shot and Killed Inside Minneapolis Apartment Building
Authorities say Khayre was on conditional release at the time of the killing in a separate Hennepin County case involving a September 2025 armed carjacking.
READ MORE > Minneapolis coverage
In that earlier case, prosecutors alleged Khayre and others confronted a woman in a garage near 19th Street and Nicollet Avenue, pointed handguns at her and forced her to give up the keys to a Dodge Challenger before fleeing in the stolen vehicle. Officers later located the vehicle and arrested multiple suspects, including Khayre, who was identified as the driver.
Court records show Khayre posted a $75,000 non-cash bond and was released under conditions requiring him to remain law-abiding, have no possession of firearms or ammunition, avoid alcohol and controlled substances and complete treatment.
Khayre is now charged with second-degree murder without intent while committing a felony and first-degree aggravated robbery. He made an initial court appearance Friday, where a judge set bail at $1 million. If convicted of second-degree felony murder, he faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
The homicide investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the victim. Anyone with information is asked to contact Minneapolis police by emailing policetips@minneapolismn.gov or calling 612-673-5845. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or online. Information leading to an arrest and conviction may be eligible for a financial reward.
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Minneapolis, MN
Man killed over Louie Vuitton bag, suspect was on bond for suspected carjacking, charges say
Minneapolis police are investigating a homicide on Feb. 24, 2026. (FOX 9)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A man is dead after a witness said he refused to give up a Louis Vuitton bag while being robbed by multiple men at gunpoint.
Abdirahman Khayre Khayre, 20, is charged with second-degree murder and first-degree robbery for the incident that happened on the evening of Feb. 24 in Minneapolis.
READ MORE: Man fatally shot in south Minneapolis apartment building
Fatal Minneapolis shooting after robbery
The set-up:
Minneapolis police responded around 10:42 p.m. on Feb. 24 at the Abbott Apartments, located on the 100 block of East 18th Street in the Stevens Square neighborhood of Minneapolis.
Officers then found a dead man in the lobby who had been shot multiple times.
A witness to the shooting said he and the victim arrived at the apartments to “hang out” with Khayre, according to the criminal complaint.
The witness said he became suspicious when Khayre he left the room multiple times and “appeared to be stalling.”
The robbery:
The complaint states the witness reported three men then came into the room and yelled “Give me everything.” The men were armed with Glock handguns that had extended magazines as well as an AR-style rifle.
They then stole two guns from the witness, and one of them was handed to Khayre.
When the men demanded a Louis Vuitton bag from the victim, he refused, leading to a fight between them all.
The shooting:
The witness said when he walked toward them, Khayre pointed the witness’ stolen gun at him and racked it.
The witness then got out of the room, ran toward the lobby and heard multiple gunshots. He then saw two of the men flee out the back of the building, but didn’t see what direction they went in.
The victim was then found dead.
The aftermath:
Khayre was then identified by the witness in a photo lineup, according to the criminal complaint.
Police say video footage corroborated much of what the witness reported.
Khayre was on conditional release for a suspected carjacking at the time of the shooting, according to the complaint.
The Source: This story uses information gathered from a criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County and previous FOX 9 reporting.
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