Three Charged Following Downtown St. Paul Graduation Shooting; Lakeville Man Arrested During Early-Morning SWAT Operation
Published: May 28th, 2026
SAINT PAUL/LAKEVILLE, MN: Three men have been charged in Ramsey County District Court following a May 4, 2026 shooting outside Grand Casino Arena in downtown St. Paul that left two people wounded and allegedly involved rival gang associates exchanging gunfire after a Metro State University graduation ceremony.
The charges were filed on May 27 against:
Zakriya Haashi Said, 21, of Lakeville
Omar Abdulwahab Mohamed, 19, of Brooklyn Park
Khalid Ali Mohamud, 21, of Minnetonka
Authorities allege the shooting stemmed from an escalating confrontation between individuals associated with rival gangs near Kellogg Boulevard following the graduation event.
The case also resulted in a significant police operation in Lakeville during the early morning hours of May 28, 2026. Law enforcement agencies, including the Lakeville Police Department and the Southwest Metro SWAT Team, assisted St. Paul police officers in executing a search warrant and took Said into custody.
Shooting Occurred After Graduation Ceremony
According to court documents, officers responded around 5:30 p.m. on May 4 to reports of multiple shootings near Grand Casino Arena following a Metro State University graduation ceremony.
Investigators said two people were struck by gunfire during the incident. One victim, identified in court records as Zakriya Haashi Said, suffered a gunshot wound to the face, resulting in multiple facial bone fractures. A second victim, identified only by initials due to age, suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh.
Officers recovered multiple shell casings from several firearms, including 9mm, .40 caliber, and .223 rifle ammunition, in and around Kellogg Boulevard near the arena. Investigators later determined the shooting allegedly involved members and associates of rival gangs.
Investigators Allege Rifle Was Produced During Confrontation
According to the criminal complaint against Said, surveillance footage and social media videos allegedly show tensions escalating between groups gathered on opposite sides of Kellogg Boulevard.
Investigators allege Said removed a rifle from a backpack after members of the opposing group exchanged insults and gestures. Court records state that after another individual punched Said's brother, Said allegedly assumed a shooting stance and aimed in the direction of the opposing group before gunfire erupted. The complaint alleges that Said was armed with a rifle and participated in a riot while armed with a dangerous weapon.
Said has been charged with:
Second-Degree Assault with a Dangerous Weapon
Second-Degree Riot While Armed with a Dangerous Weapon
Both charges are felonies.
Brooklyn Park Man Faces First-Degree Assault Charge
Investigators allege surveillance video captured Omar Abdulwahab Mohamed standing with members of the opposing group near the arena before the shooting.
According to the complaint, Mohamed allegedly moved toward Said's group and remained in what investigators described as a shooting position after gunfire began. Officers later recovered three 9mm shell casings from an area where Mohamed was allegedly standing during the confrontation.
Prosecutors have charged Mohamed with:
First-Degree Assault – Great Bodily Harm
Second-Degree Assault with a Dangerous Weapon
Second-Degree Riot While Armed with a Dangerous Weapon
The first-degree assault charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $30,000 fine.
Third Defendant Accused of Separate Shooting Near Ordway
A third defendant, Khalid Ali Mohamud, is accused of participating in a separate shooting that investigators say occurred approximately 10 minutes later.
According to court records, surveillance video showed Mohamud walking with a group near Fifth Street, between the Ordway Center and the Roy Wilkins Auditorium, around 5:40 p.m. A silver Honda Accord allegedly pulled up nearby, drawing the group's attention.
Investigators allege Mohamud ran across the street, pointed a handgun at the vehicle, and fired one shot before experiencing what appeared to be a firearm malfunction. Officers later recovered a round of 9mm ammunition in the area where the firearm was allegedly manipulated. An Ordway employee reported seeing a man pull a handgun moments before hearing a gunshot.
Mohamud is charged with one count of:
Second-Degree Assault with a Dangerous Weapon
The charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and a $14,000 fine.
Assault Allegedly Continued at Hospital
Court documents state tensions did not end at the shooting scene.
Investigators allege that after the wounded juvenile victim arrived at United Hospital, Said's brother and others physically attacked him inside the emergency department. Hospital security intervened and detained those involved until officers arrived.
According to the complaint, one participant allegedly stated, "He shot my brother," during the confrontation.
Investigation Remains Active
The charges filed this week represent the latest development in what investigators describe as a gang-related shooting connected to a large public event in downtown St. Paul.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the exchange of gunfire, including the actions of multiple individuals captured on surveillance footage and social media videos. Additional charges remain possible as the investigation progresses.
All three criminal complaints were filed in Ramsey County District Court on May 27, 2026. As with all criminal cases, the allegations contained in the complaints are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Written by: Will Wight
