Garage Gunfight Leads to Attempted Murder Charges in Mankato

Jul 11

Two Mankato teens have been charged with attempted murder and assault with a firearm after a shooting in a residential neighborhood left bullet holes in homes, vehicles and a garage.

Mahamedamin Kader Abdillahi and Ahmed Mohamed Ali, both 18, are each charged with one count of aiding and abetting second-degree attempted murder and one count of aiding and abetting second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.

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According to court documents, a man who lives at a home near the intersection of Hoffman Road and Victory Drive told police he was in his garage cleaning his rifle when two younger Black males wearing masks approached on foot just after 5 p.m. on Tuesday. He said one of the teens pulled out a handgun, cocked it and opened fire on him. The man said he returned fire and shot approximately nine times before the two fled on foot.

Mankato police officers responded to several 911 calls, including one from a nearby resident who had seen the suspects and their vehicle. That resident later gave police a video showing two masked males exiting a car before returning and leaving again. Investigators located six .40 caliber shell casings in the area along with additional .22 and .223 caliber casings inside the garage. Bullet holes were also found in three residences and two other vehicles, and officers recovered a discarded mask near the scene.

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The victim’s mother told police she believed the shooting may be tied to prior disputes involving her oldest son, who had previously been targeted in two separate shootings after a party-related fight.

A short time later, officers found a car matching the witness’s description parked at a nearby residence. Abdillahi was found inside the vehicle and arrested after initially refusing to identify himself. A loaded .40 caliber pistol was visible on the floorboard, and officers found a pair of men’s tennis shoes nearby.

Ali was located outside of a residence, barefoot and with a mask wrapped around his head. He claimed his brother had been in the car but wouldn’t give a name, according to the complaint.

Witnesses told officers the vehicle had recently returned to the home and that the two arrested teens were the only ones inside. Both remain in custody and made initial court appearances Thursday where bail was set at $1.5 million with conditions. If convicted, they each face up to 20 years in prison on the attempted murder charge.

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