Three people have been charged and a juvenile implicated in a gang shootout outside a graduation ceremony in downtown St. Paul in early May.
Charges filed in Ramsey County District Court on Thursday detail that police responded about 5:30 p.m. on May 4 to a series of shootings that occurred around Grand Casino Arena following a Metro State graduation ceremony at the facility.
Two people were shot near Kellogg Boulevard, in what is described in the complaints as a shootout between “Muddy” and “Vill” gang members and associates. Officers recovered a .223 rifle casing and two calibers of pistol casings from the scenes.
Zakriya Haashi Said, 21, of Lakeville is charged with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and second-degree riot. Omar Abdulwahab Mohamed, 19, of Brooklyn Park is charged with first-degree assault involving great bodily harm, second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, and second-degree riot. Khalid Ali Mohamud, 21, of Minnetonka is charged with second-degree assault.
A statement from the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office referenced another involved party as a juvenile but didn’t state how they were involved or whether they are facing any charges.
The criminal complaints describe that two groups were on either side of the street and became engaged in a verbal altercation. One group included Said, the other group included Mohamed. According to witness statements and video evidence posted online, a man approached and struck Said in the face. A witness with Said told police he heard gunshots and ran to his car. The witness then noticed that Said had been shot (in the face) and was being held by two others. Said was loaded into the witness’s vehicle and was driven to United Hospital.
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A couple of submitted disturbance videos from Kellogg Blvd, but we have no context on the time frame or if / how the activity is connected. pic.twitter.com/C4NYogfY75— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) May 5, 2026
One party, referred to as HH, who had been on the opposite side of street, had been shot in the thigh and also arrived at United Hospital.
As HH entered the hospital in a wheelchair, Said’s brother Bile Haashi Said, 20, and two others physically assaulted HH. Hospital security intervened and took Bile Said to the floor. The assault was captured on surveillance video.
Bile Said, who is noted in the complaint as a known Vill gang member, claimed that HH shot his brother Zakriya. Bile Said also claimed they were not involved in any feuds, and he didn’t know why they had been targeted.
HH described to police that he’d been at the arena for his cousin’s graduation when the two large groups began arguing. HH said he heard gunshots coming from both groups and began to run when he saw a black male in black clothing holding an AR-15-style rifle. HH said he heard 10-20 shots before he was shot in the leg.
Video later posted online showed Zakriya Said holding a backpack in front of him and reaching inside and pulling out a rifle; the grip and barrel were visible outside the backpack, charges said.
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Charges in the May 4 St. Paul shootings outside Grand Casino Arena reference this video reportedly of suspect Zakriya Haashi Said, 21, who was allegedly pulling a rifle from his bag.Said ended up getting shot in the face by rival shooters (7/, above). pic.twitter.com/j3ipIY22wy
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) May 29, 2026
Surveillance video was also obtained by police that showed Zakriya Said and a group on one side of Kellogg Boulevard and HH as part of a group near the arena doors. HH was seen throwing “disrespectful gang signs” to antagonize the Vill gang associates. Zakriya Said walked toward HH’s group holding the backpack with Bile Said next to him. HH then approached and punched Bile Said in the face. Zakriya Said then took a “modified shooting position” as he pulled an item from the backpack. Zakriya Said aimed in the direction of HH who then made a jerking movement after the shots were fired. HH then fled on foot.
Yet more surveillance video showed Omar Mohamed with HH and both were flashing hand signs toward Zakriya Said and his group. The video showed Mohamed walk toward Said’s group. After Zakriya Said pulled out the rifle and shots were fired, Mohamed took a “bladed stance” facing Zakriya Said and remained in the shooting position until Zakriya Said fell to the ground. Mohamed then fled while holding onto his satchel.
In a completely separate event, another shots-fired incident occurred about 5:40 p.m. on 5th Street between the Ordway Theater and Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Surveillance video showed Khalid Mohamud walking with a group when a silver Honda Accord pulled up behind. Mohamud ran across the street while pointing a handgun at the Accord and fired once. Mohamud fled between the Ordway and Roy Wilkins and stopped to manipulate his gun as if clearing a jam. Police later found a 9mm round at the location where Mohamud had manipulated his gun. An Ordway employee witnessed a man pull a gun and heard a shot fired as she was running to the building. No one was apparently struck by the gunfire in that incident.
“One of my greatest concerns heading into this summer is group violence associated with graduation and community gatherings,” Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said. “Quickly solving this recent group shooting incident that happened in downtown St. Paul after a graduation celebration is critical in conveying the message to anyone associated with group gun violence that you will certainly get caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I am deeply grateful for the hard-working SPPD investigators and prosecutors who worked to solve this non-fatal shooting case to bring those responsible to justice and keep our community safe.”
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
