A Minnesota shoplifting spree turned out to be something far more nefarious — with police alleging the deranged suspect was plotting to carry out a religiously-charged “mass-casualty” shooting within hours.
Mohamed Adan Mohamed, 24, was arrested on April 17 after he took off from a Mankato sporting goods store with more than $2,000 worth of ammunition magazines, body armor and bear spray, according to Blue Earth County charging documents.
Store employees had noticed Mohamed prowling about the shop in an oversized jacket, medical mask and hat, and grabbing expensive items off the shelves without checking the prices.
When they confronted him, he explained he was buying supplies for his AR-style rifle, according to the docs.
Police were called to the scene over reports of a suspicious person, but before they could arrive, Mohamed ran off with the goods as store security tried to stop him. He then leapt into a minivan without plates and sped away — jumping a curb and nearly hitting somebody in the process, the papers alleged.
However, he left behind a shopping list at the scene, labelled “Survival Gear List with Alternative” — which included a sleeping bag, gun magazines, pepper spray, knives, lighters and bow and arrows.
One of the responding officers reviewing the bizarre list remembered a recent investigation into a local man who’d been posting videos of himself pointing guns at the camera.
And the hashtags on those videos — allegedly posted by Mohamed — read “deathtoamerikkan&israelliImperialism,” according to police.
Investigators found that a Sienna matching the one seen at the scene was registered to Mohamed’s address in nearby St. Peter, and determined “there were strong indicators that Mohamed was preparing to conduct some sort of attack in the next twenty-four hours,” which they also called a possible “mass casualty event.”
Investigators searched Mohamed’s home and found an assault rifle and two 3D-printed guns. He was then arrested at his home.
Neighbors said they are saddened by Mohamed’s arrest but not entirely surprised. A former classmate recalled that he had been struggling with mental health since high school.
“We grew in St. Peter together, and it’s heartbreaking,” a neighbor named Dunia told CBS Minnesota. “We just start seeing Mohamed just start talking to himself, not socializing with us, with the kids.”
“He has a very beautiful heart,” she added. “He’s a really good guy. It’s just, he’s not mentally, physically there right now at the moment.”
Mohamed was charged with felony theft, and threats of violence. Both charges could carry sentences of up to five years in prison.
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