LAKEVILLE, Minn. — A Faribault man was charged with second-degree murder Tuesday after a fight with his Amazon coworker turned deadly.
Prosecutors said 24-year-old Mohamed Hared engaged in a physical altercation with his coworker, Ahmed Cariff, 22, outside Lakeville's Amazon Fulfillment Center Saturday, eventually leading to Cariff's shooting death.
The criminal complaint filed in Dakota County said Lakeville police officers responded to the facility just after 4 a.m. on Saturday, June 29, for a shooting. Court documents said among the multiple 911 callers reporting the shooting was Hared, who allegedly told dispatch he had "accidentally shot his coworker."
When police arrived, prosecutors said they found Cardiff lying face down in the parking lot between two cars, while Hared stood nearby, still holding onto a gun. A third coworker involved, police said, waited inside the building for officers to arrive.
The complaint said despite lifesaving efforts, Cardiff was pronounced dead at the scene and Hared was arrested without further incident.
Detectives who questioned Hared back at the station said they learned Hared — who legally had a permit to carry a firearm — and the unnamed coworker had carpooled to the center that morning. According to the complaint, Hared told investigators he left his handgun in his coworker's vehicle during his shift.
Hared told prosecutors that while on break around 1 a.m., he went back to the car and saw his handgun in the same place, but noted a flashlight attachment was missing. Both Cardiff and the third coworker denied knowing about the attachment when confronted by Hared, according to court documents.
Over their next break around 4 a.m., authorities said the three coworkers returned to the vehicle to search for the attachment. As Hared placed his weapon in his waistband, documents said he told police he "politely" asked for the attachment back, but Cardiff became angry over being accused and "made a stance indicating he wanted to fight."
Charging documents said Hared told police he had "no choice but to defend himself" after Cardiff allegedly moved toward him. Hared claimed he tried to run, but Cardiff wouldn't stand down. The complaint said Hared told Cardiff, "Stop man, I don't want to have to use this... " before they became physically engaged in a fight and Hared fired his weapon.
Prosecutors said Hared told them Cardiff started to strangle him while trying to wrestle the gun out of Hared's hands. Hared, whose first shot reportedly hit a vehicle, told 911 dispatchers Cardiff "tried to reach [for the gun] and that is when the other bullet fired."
On the other side of the investigation, police said they also spoke with the third coworker, who told them they suggested getting security involved in the search for the flashlight. Hared, the complaint said, continued to accuse his coworkers of stealing from him, allegedly saying, "No. You guys took my flashlight. I want my flashlight back. No one's going home today."
The complaint said the coworker claimed they tried to break up Hared and Cardiff's fight before the first shot was fired, adding it appeared Cardiff tried to get control of the gun. The witness said they and Cardiff both told Hared not to shoot before a second round was fired.
The witness told investigators that's when they then ran back into the building to call for help.
While reviewing surveillance footage, investigators said they watched as Hared threw the first punch. The complaint said authorities believed Hared could have fled the situation "on multiple occasions," but instead, he repeatedly engaged in physical fights with Cardiff until the gun went off a second time.
According to the complaint, an autopsy showed Cardiff suffered blunt force trauma to the jaw area and abrasions on his hands "consistent with a fistfight." Further, the autopsy allegedly showed the bullet that struck Cardiff tore through his heart, lung and aorta.
“It’s so senseless the victim was shot to death over such a trivial matter,” said Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena. “Deadly gun violence has no place in our communities, neighborhoods or at our places of work. My condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Cariif.”
Hared made his first appearance in court on Tuesday where a judge set his bail at $1 million with conditions and $2 million without. His next hearing is scheduled for July 15.
If convicted, he faces up to 40 years in prison.
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