A 20-year-old man is facing charges of second-degree assault and machine gun possession in connection to Friday’s shooting outside of a Wayzata High School graduation ceremony.
According to the charges:
Hamza Abdirashid Said was seen on surveillance with a group of males running from the east entrance to the Mariucci Arena at the University of Minnesota, where the ceremony was taking place.
Said, in a black gown “consistent with traditional Somali garment” and not the graduation ceremony clothing, pulled up the front of his garment while reaching toward the waistband area.
He then extended his right hand toward one of the victims, identified in the complaint as victim 2, who began to run away as Said fired multiple rounds.
Said ditched his gown and handgun while fleeing the scene. Police later recovered both and observed that the handgun had an automatic conversion kit attached, otherwise known as a “switch,” and an extended magazine.
Officers provided medical care to victim 2, who had either two gunshot wounds or an entrance-exit wound to the upper portion of his thigh area. Police placed a tourniquet on his leg. He was not cooperative and was transported to the hospital.
Another victim, a 49-year-old male identified as victim 1, had an “obvious gunshot wound to the head that was spurting blood.” Despite the injury, he remained conscious and was able to describe what happened to police.
He said he was standing outside after the ceremony with his family when he saw a group of males fighting or arguing behind him. He then heard a gunshot and began to run away with his family. After running about 20 yards, he felt a burning sensation on his head and touched it, discovering a substantial amount of blood. He then collapsed to the ground.
He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center with a fractured skull and brain bleed.
Said was spotted while walking past officers in the area of Pleasant Street SE, attempting to keep attention off of himself, but he was recognized and placed under arrest.
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Apparent video of Hamza Said being arrested following the Mariucci Arena double shooting on Friday night.pic.twitter.com/8OzmUEF9n2— CrimeWatchMpls (@CrimeWatchMpls) June 1, 2025
Police are still trying to determine if Said was inside the graduation ceremony prior to the shooting.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
