ST. PAUL — Federal charges have been filed against two men following the recovery of illegal machineguns at three Twin Cities-area high school graduation ceremonies, including Wayzata High School’s event at Mariucci Arena.
Hamza Abdirashiid Said, 20, and Amiir Mawlid Ali, 18, each face federal complaints for unlawful possession of machineguns, Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson announced this week.
According to federal court filings, on May 30 at approximately 8:00 p.m., University of Minnesota Police responded to reports of gunfire outside Mariucci Arena during Wayzata High School’s commencement ceremony. Officers arrived to find a chaotic scene and two attendees suffering from gunshot wounds. Witness accounts and surveillance footage led to the arrest of Hamza Said, who was found with a Glock 9mm handgun modified with a “switch,” a machinegun conversion device, and an extended magazine.
Just four days later, on June 3, Minneapolis Police pulled over a vehicle near another University of Minnesota-hosted graduation—this time for Edina High School. Officers recognized passenger Amiir Ali, who they associated with previous gang-related shootings. A Glock 10mm with a 33-round extended magazine and machinegun switch was discovered beneath Ali’s seat. He was arrested June 6 while present at a third graduation shooting in Burnsville.
Jail calls from Ali later revealed plans to obtain another “button,” a slang term for a machinegun switch, upon release.
“These are ceremonies meant to celebrate the achievement of our youth—a rite of passage, a time of joy,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Thompson. “Bringing violence and machine guns to such events is not only unlawful—it is immoral and shameful. Our community deserves better.”
Both men appeared in U.S. District Court yesterday before Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty. They remain in custody pending detention hearings.
The federal charges stem from investigations led by the ATF and FBI Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force, with assistance from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, University of Minnesota Police, and Minneapolis Police Department. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristian C. Weir.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation; the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
