20 charged in July 4th fireworks melee in Minneapolis’ Dinkytown
Twenty people have been charged with riotous behavior and shooting fireworks at other people the night of July 4th in Minneapolis' Dinkytown area.
So far, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office has charged people with offenses including second-degree rioting while armed with a dangerous weapon — a felony — and fleeing police. Charges against others could still come as the county attorney's office continues to review the late-night incidents, spokesperson Daniel Borgertpoepping said.
Although the night had fewer fights and less gun violence than the city has seen in recent years on July 4th, Hassanen Mohamed, executive director of the Minnesota Somali Community Center, said he recognizes it's still a serious issue. Mohamed said he thinks part of the solution is working to intervene and divert the participants from going in the first place.
"We want to make sure we address this behavior upstream; we don't want it to be a public safety issue, and that's what we've been pushing for with having programs and activities," he said.
Police initially responded to reports of a crowd shooting fireworks at others in Dinkytown on the night of July 4th, according to the criminal complaint.
Drone footage showed people shooting commercial-grade fireworks "into the air, toward others, toward vehicles, and eventually at uniformed officers when they moved into the area," according to the charges. One officer reported seeing a juvenile light a mortar-style firework and throw it at police. The mortar landed under a parked car, blew up, and burned one officer's skin, creating a numbing sensation that lasted hours, according to the complaint.
Following the July 4 celebrations, more than two dozen young adults were arrested after midnight on Friday. Of the arrests, 27 were adults and eight were juveniles, ages 15 to 23. Mohamed said the gatherings are advertised on social media, encouraging and pressuring people to attend. The nonprofit center Mohamed works for has worked to find activities and connect with social workers who work with the participants.
"We want to make sure they get the resources they need, that their parents get the resources they need, and that we address this," he said.
Most of those arrested were not from the Twin Cities, and included some from out of state, court records show. Two of the charged suspects — Sharif Jimale and Abdifatah Aden Bare, both 22 — were from Lewiston, Maine.
Other codefendants charged with second-degree riot so far are:
22-year-old Mahamed Youssuf Dahir21-year-olds Zakaria Ahmed Jama, Mohamedamin Ali Nur, Abdirahman Mohamed Ali, and Ahmed Ilyas Dudeyeh.20-year-olds Abdihakim Mohamed Aden, Abdirahman Yusuf Ahmed, Rudwan Hassan, Hussein Abdi Jama, and Ahmed Adan Mohamed.19-year-olds Said Kamal Salah and Ridwan Rage Sallah.And 18-year-olds Milkias Ghidei and Zakaria Esmael Umar.
Misdemeanor charges from the incidents have been referred to the city attorney's office, Borgertpoepping said.
Police initially responded to reports of a crowd shooting fireworks at others in Dinkytown on the night of July 4th, according to the criminal complaint.
Most of those charged so far have been released from custody.
Some who deliberately targeted people with the fireworks will be charged with felony-level assault, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said the day after the arrests. No assault charges were filed as of Tuesday.
Star Tribune reporter Anna Colletto contributed to this report.