Gunfire erupted inside a Columbia Heights restaurant as two groups of young men confronted each other near the restrooms, sending customers scrambling for cover and leaving multiple people struck by bullets.
Yusuf Issack Osman, 18, of Columbia Heights, faces two counts of attempted 2nd-degree murder for firing a handgun at another man during the confrontation on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
According to the criminal complaint, officers responded to New York Gyro in Columbia Heights at about 8:45 p.m. after several 911 callers reported shots fired and people injured. Witnesses told law enforcement that a heated argument broke out between two groups of males inside the restaurant, escalating quickly to gunfire.
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One witness, who was dining with her family, said she saw a man inside the restaurant pull out a handgun and fire toward another man near the bathroom area. She also reported seeing gunfire coming from outside the building, suggesting that two shooters exchanged shots from inside and outside the restaurant.
Surveillance video reviewed by investigators showed a group of five males arriving in a Tesla sedan and joining three others in two booths. Later, three more males arrived in a white Mercedes-Benz and entered the restaurant, appearing to recognize the original group.
The video captured a tense verbal confrontation between the groups, with one man recording the interaction on his phone and others moving toward the bathroom hallway. As the situation escalated, the man identified as the shooter drew a handgun and fired in the direction of another male, just as two children were walking away from the bathroom area only feet from the gunfire.
Physical evidence collected at the scene confirmed that more than one firearm had been discharged, supporting witness accounts of return fire during the incident. The complaint does not specify how many people were injured or the extent of their injuries.
Osman is charged with two counts of attempted 2nd-degree murder, each alleging that he intended to kill another person but did not premeditate the act.
The charges were filed Wednesday, July 15, 2026, in Anoka County District Court. A court date has not yet been set.
About This Charge
Attempted 2nd-degree murder in Minnesota is charged under § 609.17 in combination with § 609.19. The attempt statute applies when a person acts with intent to cause another’s death but no death results. The maximum penalty for an attempt is half the maximum for the completed offense, so attempted 2nd-degree murder caps at about 20 years in prison. The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission publishes guideline ranges that judges follow except where specific aggravating or mitigating factors are on the record.
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Jurisdictional Context
Anoka County, north of the Twin Cities, is served by the Anoka County Attorney’s Office through the Tenth Judicial District. The Anoka County Courthouse in Anoka hears felony matters; the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office operates the Anoka County Jail.
