Minneapolis, MN
Man sentenced for deadly 2024 shooting at homeless encampment
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A man was sentenced to more than 32 years behind bars for a deadly shooting at a homeless encampment in 2024.
Ahmed Abdi sentenced
What we know:
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office announced on Friday that Ahmed Ali Abdi, 38, was sentenced to more than 32 years in prison for the deadly shooting of Jabraun Hole.
Abdi was convicted on charges of murder and possession of a firearm at trial.
What they’re saying:
In a provided statement, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said: “My thoughts are with Jabraun’s loved ones today. This was another instance of senseless gun violence that took a life. No sentence can bring Jabraun back, but Mr. Abdi is being held accountable for his actions.”
Deadly encampment shooting
The backstory:
Abdi was arrested after police said he opened fire following a fight at a homeless encampment along 3rd Avenue South near East 33rd Street on August 19, 2024.
The criminal complaint described Hole being chased down and attacked by a group of three men. As Hole tried to escape, police said video showed Abdi raising the gun, shooting Hole, and then putting the gun back in his waistband and calmly walking away.
Abdi fled the scene but was arrested a few weeks later at the same encampment.
The Source: This story uses a release from the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, past reporting, and information from the criminal complaint against Abdi.
Minneapolis, MN
Men facing federal drug charges after authorities seize nearly 900 pounds of meth in Minneapolis
Two men have been federally indicted in what officials are calling “one of the largest” drug busts in Minnesota history.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson announced Thursday that Joel Casas-Santiago, 46, and Guillermo Mercado-Chaparro, 44, have both been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Mercado-Chaparro is also charged with illegal reentry by a removed alien.
The two men were arrested and charged after authorities seized nearly 900 pounds of meth from two vehicles earlier this month, charges say. Authorities initially reported 960 pounds of meth had been recovered.
“A 900-pound haul like this doesn’t just show intent to distribute. It shows intent to poison entire communities,” Thompson said. “We will not let Minnesota become a distribution hub for cartel-scale operations. This prosecution is just the beginning.”
Court documents say an undercover police officer bought a pound of meth from Mercado-Chaparro. Through surveillance after the purchase, police learned he was traveling around south Minneapolis to conduct several suspected drug deals.
St. Paul Police Department
Several days later, charges say police observed Mercado-Chaparro receive two large bags from his truck’s bed and place them in a nearby Jeep.
Authorities eventually stopped the Jeep with Casas-Santiago and Mercado-Chaparro inside. A drug-sniffing dog alerted officers to the odor of drugs. During a search of the Jeep, police found more than 250 pounds of meth, according to charging documents.
Police then obtained a search warrant for Mercado-Chaparro’s truck, where they seized more than 630 pounds of meth from the bed, court documents say.
FBI Director Dan Bongino said on social media that the arrests and seizure were part of “a hit targeting drug trafficking rings you’ll hear about soon.”
The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office also charged the men with first-degree drug sales.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – A Twin Cities group is doing its best to prevent violence and get drug needles off the streets. The only city contract to pick up needles used for illegal drug injection is with the community group, “A Mother’s Love.”
What is A Mother’s Love?
The backstory:
“A Mother’s Love” is known for their anti-violence work and focus on improving the lives of women and children. But they also do needle pick-up.
Used drug needles are a major problem in Minneapolis, as drug use is a problem.
While there are needle disposal boxes in the city, they’re often not used, and the used needles are tossed on the ground.
Thousands of needles cleaned up
By the numbers:
In 2024, AML picked up about 2,500 needles. That included 311 calls and the street sweeps. It did not include the boxes the city places for needle disposal. The 2025 numbers do include that though, and it’s up to 2,700 collected so far this year.
What do they pick up?
What they’re saying:
The crew encounters all kinds of potentially dangerous situations picking up the used needles.
“Oh yeah, you have needles with blood, full of blood. Why? Because they didn’t do it correctly or they shot it all in. Then they let the blood fill it back up and they took the needle out and just threw it,” said crew leader Cordell Burton. He goes on to say, “I don’t think nobody ever been stuck on our crew yet. Because we take precaution. We don’t go through kicking stuff when you do stuff like that. That’s when the needle can fly up and stick you in your leg.”
Tracking the numbers
Dig deeper:
The Minnesota Department of Human Services keeps numbers on injected drug use by asking questions about use in licensed treatment facilities. In 2021, 13,000 people injected illegal drugs. In 2022, 11,700 and in 2023, there were about 10,500. The 2024 numbers are not in yet.
The Source: Cordell Burton, A Mother’s Love. Lisa Clemons, A Mother’s Love. Monique Flowers, A Mother’s Love and the Minnesota Department of Human Services
–
An altercation on a downtown Minneapolis sidewalk turned deadly Tuesday night when a man in his 30s was shot and killed, according to police.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the altercation on the 1500 block of 11th Avenue S. involved people who knew each other and escalated to the point that one person pulled out a gun. The shooting occurred around 6:30 p.m.
“Police officers immediately attempted to provide life-saving first aid, and they were later joined by EMS,” the chief said. “Unfortunately, that male was pronounced deceased at the scene.”
Investigators interviewing witnesses and relatives later on the city block, within view of U.S Bank Stadium and around the corner from a soccer game at a crowded Elliot Park. Video from cameras positioned around the block could offer further evidence, O’Hara added.
O’Hara said he was concerned about the possibility of further violence and retaliation among the people involved in the altercation and that his department was taking swift action to try to prevent that.
The chief said the identity of the victim will be released by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.
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