MINNEAPOLIS — A Minneapolis man is charged with attempted murder and first-degree assault after prosecutors say he pulled a gun on a park police officer trying to detain him and opened fire.
Prosecutors detail the charges against 24-year-old Muhyedin Abdiziz Abdirahman in the incident, which took place near Lake Harriet late Tuesday night.
The Minneapolis Park Police officer was on patrol shortly before midnight when he spotted a vehicle illegally parked on the boat landing and got out of his squad to investigate. He soon encountered a man, later identified as Abdirahman, and asked whether the vehicle was his. The defendant allegedly responded that it was "none of your (the officer's) business" and refused to identify himself. Things escalated, with the officer saying the car was going to be towed and Abdirahman saying he was going to drive away.
Investigators say as the defendant tried to get in the vehicle the officer grabbed his arm, and Abdirahman reportedly backed up several steps, pulled a handgun from his waistband and opened fire. The complaint says the officer returned fire, and somehow neither man was struck despite multiple shots being exchanged
Responding officers began searching near the scene and soon located the alleged gunman sitting on a park bench near 47th Street and Lake Harriet Parkway. Police asked Abdirahman if he had seen anything, and reportedly responded that he "was involved." The defendant was handcuffed and searched, but no gun was found. He allegedly told the officers that he dropped it, and asked "is he alright?"
A search by ground and water led to a police K-9 locating a Glock .40 handgun hidden under a pile of leaves. Search warrants revealed the officer's car had been struck three times on the side Abdirahman was facing as he fired, and six spent .40 shell casings were recovered. Investigators also found three spent 9mm shells, matching the officer's gun.
Abdirahman remains jailed in Hennepin County. If convicted of second-degree attempted murder he faces a possible recommended sentence of 40 years in prison.
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