On February 14, 2026, Columbia Heights Police responded to New York Gyro, located at [ADDRESS REDACTED] NE in the City of Fridley, Anoka County, Minnesota regarding a report of shots fired. Additional callers reported individuals had been hit in the shooting and dropped off at Mercy Hospital-Unity Campus. Anoka County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Detectives and Crime Scene Detectives responded to the scene and hospitals. The two males who suffered gunshot wounds were identified as AAO, [DOB REDACTED] and KALID HUSSAN MOWLID, [DOB REDACTED]. AAO sustained a single gunshot wound to the groin and MOWLID sustained three gunshot wounds to his lower left leg.
Anoka County Sheriff Detective Hovorka spoke with witnesses on scene and learned a witness saw a person inside the restaurant firing a gun. The witness described seeing muzzle flashes (“sparks”). The witness also observed gunfire coming from outside the building, between the first and second set of entry doors. The witness believed there were two shooters, one inside and one outside, firing at each other. Crime Scene Detectives located evidence indicating at least two rounds were fired into the restaurant toward the front counter area and multiple rounds were fired out of the restaurant four of which struck AAO and Mowlid.
Detective Hovorka viewed surveillance footage from the restaurant and observed at 7:06 P.M. A Tesla sedan pulled into the restaurant parking lot. Five males are seen entering the restaurant. At 7:42 P.M., a red Toyota Camry entered the restaurant parking lot. Three more males are seen entering the restaurant and join the other five males sitting in the two booths in the front area of the restaurant. At 8:42 P.M., a white Mercedes-Benz entered the parking lot of the restaurant and three of the vehicle’s occupants entered the restaurant.
Two of the three males who exited the Mercedes-Benz were subsequently identified as AAO and Mowlid. Inside the restaurant Mowlid is seen with his right hand positioned inside the center of his jacket in a manner consistent with concealing or implying possession of a handgun. The other males inside the restaurant and the three that just entered appeared to recognize one another. Body language of the parties indicated a verbal confrontation. AAO appeared agitated and visibly yelling. A male from the group of eight suddenly produced a handgun and immediately fired in the direction of AAO and Mowlid.
The shooter, later identified as YIO, [DOB REDACTED], briefly lowered the handgun and advanced toward the vestibule area. He then raised the handgun and discharged additional rounds into the vestibule. Exterior surveillance footage showed shooter YIO was first of the original eight to exit the restaurant. He immediately ran to the north side of the building, then continued East on foot. Three males then ran from the restaurant and entered the red Toyota Camry. A fourth male exited seconds later and entered the Camry and the vehicle drove southbound through the parking lot.
