Two days after the shooting on Harriet Avenue, Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges was already cooling on the big fix that metro officials had floated. "I'm not necessarily sold on that yet, but I'll have those discussions with those law enforcement leaders tomorrow," Hodges said Oct. 8 about a regional gang task force. He said he'd rather realign the resources that already exist than build a new agency. He also tried to calm nerves about Mall of America: "The mall is safe. I still take my most valuable assets there – my family."
Hodges was blunt about what's driving the violence. "These kids have money... the only thing that they're fighting over is social media beef," he said. He also drew a clear line: "Right now, yes, we have issues with Somali Americans participating in gang activity. But they are not reflective of their community."
City Hall made the same point a day earlier. On Oct. 7, Mayor Tim Busse and the City Council released a short statement condemning "recent acts of violence and criminal activity, not only in Bloomington but in our neighboring cities." "Violence of any kind is not welcome in Bloomington, and those who commit violent acts will be held accountable," it reads. "We are aware that the suspects in these recent cases are members of our Somali American community. But it is important to note that crime is committed by individuals not an entire group or culture." The statement calls Somali American neighbors "residents, business owners, professionals and leaders who contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of our lives and community." It also praised the police department, saying "crime hasn't been this low in Bloomington since the 1970s." Residents with questions can reach the City Council Office at 952-563-8782 or [email protected].
Here's how we got here. The statement doesn't name specific incidents, but a string of west metro shootings came first. On Sept. 22, shots were fired at the basketball court at Our Lady of Grace Church in Edina. On Oct. 2, gunfire forced an evacuation at Eden Prairie High School's homecoming game. On Oct. 5, shots were fired outside an Eden Prairie gas station.
Then, at about 12:47 a.m. Oct. 6, police were called to Harriet Avenue South between West 99th and 102nd streets. Police said about 100 rounds were fired and 1 person was hurt. Later that day, Hodges, Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt and the Edina and Eden Prairie police chiefs held a news conference. Witt said her office is repurposing 2 task forces to focus mainly on gangs.
Residents near West 102nd and Harriet said one bullet went through a fence and another hit near a bedroom window. Hodges had a message for the shooters: "100 rounds in our community, you come to Bloomington, we are going to find you, we are going to lock you up."
There's a separate federal case too. Prosecutors charged Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, with receiving a firearm and ammunition for use in a federal crime of terrorism. They say he planned an ISIS-inspired attack at Mall of America and talked about killing 30 to 60 people. The FBI began investigating him in December 2024, and he was arrested Oct. 6 after buying an AK-47. U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen said authorities "detected a threat and disrupted it." Prosecutors said Mohamud had no gang ties.
Mohamud was arrested in Richfield during an undercover gun sale. The mall said it maintains "multiple layers of security, both visible and behind the scenes." Local imam Yusuf Abdulle worried the case could fuel stereotyping of Somali Americans: "when you alienate the young ones...you create more problems."
