A Coon Rapids man has been charged in a shooting that injured two people Friday on the University of Minnesota campus in Minneapolis after a high school graduation ceremony.
Hamza Abdirashid Said, 20, was charged with first-degree assault causing great bodily harm, second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a machine gun.
According to the criminal complaint, at least one of the victims appeared to be an innocent bystander gathered with his family outside Mariucci Arena after the Wayzata High School graduation ceremony. Few details were available about the second victim. Both of the men who were shot, ages 49 and 19, were released from the hospital on Sunday.
The criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County gave the following details about the shooting:
When officers arrived they found a man who had been shot in the head and had blood spurting from the wound. The man told police he had been standing outside the arena after the graduation ceremony with his family when a group behind him began to argue. After hearing a gunshot, he and his family ran for cover away from the group and toward Oak Street.
About 20 yards into his escape he felt a burning sensation on his head. When he reached to touch his head, he realized it was covered in blood. He then collapsed. He remained conscious as people around him performed first aid. He said his right arm was also numb at the time. He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center and a CT scan showed he had a fractured skull and brain bleed. The area where the bullet struck him controlled the right side of his body and it was why he could not feel his arm.
Officers found a second victim, who had been shot in the upper leg and thigh area. A tourniquet was put on the leg and he was taken to the hospital, as well. He did not cooperate with police, the complaint said.
Surveillance video captured the shooting from above. It showed several males running out of the southbound doors of the arena. At one point, a man reached into his waistband and drew a gun, firing multiple rounds. Everyone around the group ducked or ran. The shooter jumped over some bushes and fled, ditching the gun and shedding an outer layer of clothing and a mask.
Investigators later found the weapon, a Glock 17 that had been converted to fire as an automatic weapon.
Shortly after, they arrested Said. Investigators are still determining whether he was inside the arena during the graduation ceremony. He remains in custody.
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