Feds charge 2 in high school grad shootings, plural

The U.S. Attorney announced machine gun possession charges against two men in connection with the shootings at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis last month outside of the Wayzata High School graduation ceremony held at the University of Minnesota, and another shooting outside of the Burnsville graduation last Friday.

Amiir Mawlid Ali (on the left above), age 18, of Circle Pines, and Hamza Abdirashiid Said (above right), 20, are both in custody at the Sherburne County Jail’s federal lockup.

Other than appearing on the same press release, it has not been alleged that the incidents are related.

According to court records, Hamza Said was arrested soon after the Wayzata graduation shooting by University of Minnesota police. He was charged with three state felony counts and held until transferred to federal custody yesterday (June 10). Said is due back in state court on July 2.

Amiir Ali was picked up while riding with two others the following week (June 3) after a routine Minneapolis city police stop. Ali was in possession of a 10 mm firearm.

The trio was believed to be en route to the Edina High School graduation event, also scheduled to be held at Mariucci Arena that night.

The Hennepin County attorney did not file charges against Ali, and he was released on June 5. On June 6, Ali was arrested in Dakota county on charges related to the Burnsville high school graduation that night. Court records and media reports indicate that state charges were not filed against Ali in that incident. Instead, Ali was held by Dakota County until transferred to federal custody.

Each man is scheduled for a separate detention hearing in Federal Court in St. Paul on Friday, June 13.