Minneapolis man unleashes terror in outstate Minnesota — and other top public safety news
Minneapolis man’s violent crime spree leaves one dead and another injured in outstate Minnesota.
On Tuesday, a 25-year-old Minneapolis man named Ameer Matariyeh assaulted his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend in a south Minneapolis apartment building with a handgun. Matariyeh fired several rounds while on scene prompting 911 calls to the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). When officers eventually arrived, Matariyeh had left the area. An MPD crisis negotiator was able to reach Matariyeh by cell phone while authorities attempted to locate Matariyeh as he fled west out of town. Matariyeh drove to a home in rural Lake Lillian on Hwy 7 where he shot a 25-year-old in the chest and stole a vehicle from the residence. A short time later Matariyeh rear-ended another stranger, a 55-year-old man, on Hwy 71 near Wilmar. Matariyeh got out, shot the man in the head and attempted to take that car, but was taken into custody before being able to flee. The 25-year-old was transported to the hospital in critical condition, while the 55-year-old victim tragically died of his injuries.
According to CrimeWatch Minnesota, dispatch audio suggests no Minneapolis officer was assigned the original assault call for nearly 15 mins. Further information from CrimeWatch suggests the MPD’s 5th Precinct only had four officers on duty Tuesday during the incident. If accurate, this case shows how the MPD’s staffing crisis is not only impacting Minneapolis residents but is having significant consequences for all Minnesotans.
20–year-old Twin Cities man now stands charged with three separate murders since 2021.
Albert Lucas, 20, was recently charged in Hennepin County for his involvement in a murder occurring on 33rd and Dupont Ave No. in Minneapolis in November 2023. What makes this news even more troubling is that the murder is the third separate murder Lucas stands accused of since 2021. Reports indicate Lucas was originally arrested for murder in 2021 as a juvenile, but charges were dropped after a witness failed to appear. Then in May 2024, Lucas was arrested by police for illegally possessing a handgun. While in custody, he was re-charged with the 2021 murder, now as an adult. Investigators and prosecutors have since been able to link Lucas to a February 2024 murder at Franklin and Chicago Ave in Minneapolis and the November 2023 murder, and filed charges in against Lewis for those murders in September 2024. Lucas remains in the Hennepin County Jail on several million dollars bail, and a hold by the US Marshal Service.
Hennepin County Violent Offender Task Force (VOTF) announces massive drug and weapon seizures
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office announced the results of an investigation that led to the arrests of several suspects and the seizure of drugs, guns and cash in Hennepin County. In a one-week period, members of the Sheriff Emergency Services Unit (SWAT) executed seven high-risk entries securing these residences for VOTF investigators. Subsequent searches led to the seizure of nine firearms, 5 lbs of methamphetamine, 200 grams of cocaine, 50 grams of fentanyl, and $200,000. Seizures of this level used to be significant just 10 years ago, but have sadly become almost routine.
As juvenile criminals are getting younger, the juvenile system is struggling to deal with the issue
Fox 9 ran an article detailing the struggles juvenile authorities are having with the increased numbers of very young juvenile criminal offenders — some as young as 9-10 years old committing violent crimes. Part of the problem involves the lack of in-custody options, leading many of these offenders to be returned to the street time after time. This problem must be given higher priority than it has been. Teaching young kids involved in crime that there are no consequences to their behavior creates a ticking timebomb in our future.
Carjacker who attacked a family in their suburban driveway receives unacceptable plea deal
Romell Lewis, 22, of Milwaukee was charged in Hennepin County with 12 felony crimes including 9 separate car thefts, several burglaries, and a high-profile carjacking of a Minnetonka family while they unloaded groceries in their driveway last summer. That carjacking alone should have resulted in a minimum 86-month prison sentence based on recent changes to Minnesota’s sentencing guidelines. However, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty’s office didn’t charge Lewis with carjacking. Instead Moriarty’s office charged Lewis with robbery which holds a lesser penalty — a situation that has reportedly become the norm in Hennepin County. The plea deal resulted in Lewis receiving just 67 months and included his “time served” awaiting trial. In the end, after serving the standard 2/3rds time in custody, Lewis will be eligible for release in just 39 months — for 12 felonies including carjacking of a family in their driveway. Our justice system is failing us.