“Let us be very clear: there are no ‘roving Somali gangs terrorizing people,'” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty declared six months ago.
Today, Minnesota’s Republican congressional delegation says the evidence tells a different story.
In a letter sent Thursday to U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen, U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., led the state’s Republican delegation in calling on federal prosecutors to intensify their crackdown on Somali gangs, citing what lawmakers described as an escalating wave of gang-related violence across the Twin Cities, such as a shooting Wednesday night in Edina that sources say was gang violence.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you won’t assimilate, then get the hell out of here. First it was an estimated $9 billion in fraud, now it’s out-of-control violence,” Emmer said in a statement. “These Somali gangs have shot up high school graduations and assaulted players on opposing basketball teams with tire irons. It’s absolute madness, and something must be done.”
Residents report at least 20 gunshots at Edina park
The latest incident unfolded around 9 p.m. Wednesday near Yancey Park in Edina, where multiple residents reported hearing more than 20 gunshots.
Edina police confirmed officers responded to reports of shots fired near the 5500 block of Hansen Road. No injuries were reported, no suspects have been arrested, and the investigation remains active.
Crime Watch Minneapolis reported that residents said a group of more than 50 Somali youths was gathered at the park when the gunfire erupted.
Alpha News asked Edina police whether investigators believe the shooting involved Somali gangs but the city said it can’t share any additional information because the incident remains under investigation.
Edina – SHOOTING.
55xx Hansen Road, Yancey ParkAlso submitted from resident: 20+ gunshots at Yancy Park in Edina. Multiple police departments on the scene now fyi
21:35 pic.twitter.com/nlJ9QZnpNl
— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) July 23, 2026
Bob Fletcher: Somali gang violence reached tipping point
Emmer’s letter builds on concerns renewed earlier this month by Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher, who warned that Somali gang violence has reached a tipping point in the Twin Cities.
Following multiple shootings and a homicide over the Fourth of July weekend, Fletcher said his office has linked Somali gangs to 14 murders and more than 100 shootings over the past two years.
During a livestream, Fletcher stressed that the violence is being driven by roughly 300 young people participating in about 12 gangs across the metro and was careful not to castigate the entire Somali community.
“We cannot afford to deny that there’s a problem,” Fletcher said. “We can’t be in denial because if we are, we delay getting going and getting a start to help these kids.”
He warned that unless the issue is confronted now, those numbers could continue to grow.
To support those claims, Fletcher provided Crime Watch and Alpha News with a nine-page document titled “East African Violence timeline” listing more than 100 violent incidents across the metro dating back to May 2023.
The document includes homicides, drive-by shootings, aggravated assaults, armed robberies and weapons offenses across dozens of Twin Cities communities, with case numbers, suspect names and known gang affiliations where available.
According to the timeline, the violence has stretched far beyond Minneapolis and St. Paul, with incidents documented in communities including Edina, Bloomington, Burnsville, Brooklyn Park, Minnetonka, Hopkins, Maplewood, Woodbury and at locations such as the Minnesota State Fair, Mall of America, Valleyfair and the University of Minnesota.
“There is nothing racist about calling out Somali gang members who are wreaking havoc across our great state,” the lawmakers wrote in their Thursday letter. “We cannot ignore the fact that there is a rise in young Somalis joining the gangs.”
Edina promotes Operation Metro Surge ‘recovery survey’
Just hours before Wednesday night’s shooting in Edina, the city’s public messaging was focused on the community’s “recovery” from Operation Metro Surge.
In his latest “Mayor’s Minute,” Mayor Jim Hovland encouraged residents of Edina, Bloomington and Richfield to complete an anonymous “Operation Metro Surge Community Recovery Survey.”
The survey asks residents how the federal operation affected their daily lives, health, education, safety, access to services, community trust and overall well-being.
Available in English, Spanish and Somali, the survey also asks residents what resources and support they believe are needed moving forward.
Later in the day Thursday, the city put out a statement acknowledging that “many residents are concerned and frustrated following Wednesday night’s shooting.” The city also said it is aware of “large gatherings of young people” taking place in parks in Edina and across the metro this summer.
“The Edina Police Department has been working closely with our Joint Community Police Partnership liaison from Hennepin County, Somali community leaders and families to build relationships, address concerns and encourage positive activities for young people,” the statement said.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
