Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis City Council funds violence prevention organizations | Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
After decades of mistrust between the Minneapolis Police Department and the community, the City Council is investing in alternative violence prevention initiatives. On March 27 the Council approved funding for five organizations: Restoration, Inc. and A Mother’s Love, which provide services on the North Side of Minneapolis; and T.O.U.C.H. Outreach, Sabathani Community Center, and MAD Dads serving the South Side.
The Council also approved a proposal by Councilmember Jamal Osman to move $640,000 from public safety funds to support violence prevention efforts in the Cedar Riverside and Elliot Park neighborhoods. However, these funding decisions follow weeks of debate, particularly concerning the loss of service in Zone 2, a Northside area that includes the historically high-need intersection of 36th and Penn.
Weeks earlier, Rev. Jerry McAfee’s nonprofit, 21 Days of Peace, had its funding request pulled after two of its members were involved in a shootout off-the-clock. The sudden removal of 21 Days of Peace left Zone 2 without a dedicated violence prevention group, raising concerns among residents and local leaders about potential gaps in service.
In response, the Council passed a resolution allowing community groups to bid on providing services in Zone 2, but no immediate replacement has been secured. “It really was just helping Osman figure out his funding stream because the money was there for Zone 2,” said Councilmember LaTrisha Vetaw.
“We had lots of conversations in the past 48 hours and meetings with the administration to figure out how to maintain funding for Zone 2 while also expanding support for Cedar Riverside and Elliot Park,” added Councilmember Robin Wonsley.
“I’ve got to figure out how to get funding for 36th and Penn,” Vetaw said.
“Obviously,” said Councilmember Jeremiah Ellison, “the intent was never for Zone 2 to be without coverage, and the administration has been adamant that we can’t talk about what’s going on with the current contract. We didn’t want that to be interpreted as Zone 2 not getting service.”
Concerns over funding cuts
While funding has been allocated for violence prevention, some leaders are raising concerns about how the city’s approach is affecting local organizations. Muhammad Abdul-Ahad, executive director of T.O.U.C.H. Outreach, has voiced frustration over staffing cuts and reduced wages under the Neighborhood Safety Department’s (NSD) agreement with Cure Violence Global, a national organization that uses a public health approach to violence prevention.
The Cure Violence model treats violence as a contagious disease, hiring “violence interrupters”— often individuals with relevant lived experience — to mediate conflicts before they escalate. While the approach has been adopted in cities nationwide, critics argue that local organizations are being underfunded and under-resourced as a result of this contract.
“The gold standard has always been $30 an hour, and now we are facing cuts,” Abdul-Ahad said, adding that the new contract terms are unsustainable for his staff. Due to funding constraints, his organization will be forced to reduce its staff from 32 to just seven members.
Leadership turnover
Tensions within the Neighborhood Safety Department have grown since the resignation of its former director, Luana Nelson-Brown, last February. Nelson-Brown stepped down citing misaligned priorities with city officials, fueling ongoing concerns about how violence prevention efforts are being managed.
Abdul-Ahad supports shifting oversight responsibilities from NSD to Hennepin County. “They have the personnel, they have the management structure there that could oversee the work and, you know, give us project managers,” Abdul-Ahad said.
“They have the infrastructure to be able to give it the oversight that it needs. Okay, right now, the city doesn’t have that. We don’t even have a project manager.”
NSD Deputy Director Lea Lakes did not respond to email requests for comment at this time.
Criticism over vendor selection
Critics of the program have also raised concerns about vendors like A Mother’s Love and We Push for Peace. Some accuse these groups of disrupting protests and engaging in violent behavior. Communities United Against Police Brutality (CUAPB) highlighted incidents where operatives were involved in physical altercations at protests and mishandled protest materials.
“The cost of training for these groups is excessive, and there is no clear evidence that these programs are working,” Michelle Gross, executive director of CUAPB, wrote in a letter to the council. “We urge the council to reconsider these contracts and demand transparency on the effectiveness of the violence interrupters.”
Despite these criticisms, supporters of the Cure Violence Global model argue that such programs are essential for reducing violence in communities where law enforcement is often seen as untrustworthy.
What comes next?
As part of the oversight for the initiative, a comprehensive evaluation of the program’s vendors and their effectiveness will be conducted, with the first month’s data set to be released on May 8. An online dashboard will provide six months of data to the public. The findings could influence future funding decisions and determine whether the current model remains viable.
With concerns about staffing shortages, contract transparency, and gaps in coverage — particularly in Zone 2 — community advocates and city officials will be watching closely to see if these investments yield measurable reductions in violence.
Clint Combs welcomes reader responses at ccombs@spokesman-recorder.com.
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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.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The local Iranian community in Minnesota is expressing mixed emotions following the recent joint U.S.-Israel strike on Iran.
Local reactions to the strike
What we know:
The strike resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to President Donald Trump and Iranian state media. Many Iranians in Minnesota feel this could lead to freedom for their country.
Nazanin Naferipoor shared that her sister in Iran was initially happy about the strike, believing it might bring about freedom. However, communication has been cut off since the strike began, leaving many worried about their loved ones.
The other side:
Hamid Kashani from the Minnesota Committee in Support of a Democratic Iran expressed mixed feelings about the strike. While he hopes for change, he is concerned about the potential loss of innocent lives.
Fazy Kowsari emphasized that the attack targeted the government, not the religion, and criticized the political motivations behind the strike.
Upcoming rally at Nicollet Mall
Why you should care:
A rally is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon at Nicollet Mall and 11th Street. Organizers view the U.S. strike as a rescue operation for Iranians held hostage by the regime, rather than an act of war.
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