Mayor Calls for Gun Ban After Somali Gang Shooting
St. Louis Park mayor urges gun ban after shooting linked to Somali gangs disrupts school event.
2 min read
St. Louis Park, Minnesota, Mayor Nadia Mohamed, the first Somali elected mayor in the United States, called for a gun ban after a shooting linked to Somali gangs forced a high school to cancel its homecoming dance. The incident, which left two people injured, sparked a heated debate about community safety and gun control.
Shooting Disrupts Homecoming Plans
Minnesota’s Eden Prairie High School, located just southwest of St. Louis Park, canceled its homecoming dance following a shooting that authorities believe involved Somali gangs. The incident occurred outside the school’s football stadium on Friday night, leaving two individuals injured. The school’s principal, Jaysen Anderson, explained the decision was made due to the trauma caused by the shooting, which took place the night before the event.
“Due to last night’s tragic and unfortunate event, we will not be holding our Homecoming Dance this evening,” Anderson stated. “While we believe we would have the planning, resources and support to make tonight’s event safe and enjoyable, holding a dance less than 24 hours after a trauma in our community feels out of place.”
Mayor Calls for Gun Ban
Mayor Mohamed emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to the issue, calling for a gun ban as a solution. “The answer is easy, ban guns,” she said, adding that targeting a specific community for gang violence is “low-hanging fruit.”
“We can definitely talk about this issue without making it a Somali issue,” Mohamed said. “Without making it all about Somalis, and how Somali gangs, and Somali this, and Somali that. … The rhetoric that you are pushing at best is irresponsible, at worst is dangerous.”
Community and Law Enforcement Responses
Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case defended the Somali community, stating that gang violence must be confronted, but the actions of a few should not define the broader community. “Gang violence must be confronted, but the actions of those involved should not define the broader Somali community,” Case said.
Meanwhile, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office investigator Jama Shine acknowledged the existence of a Somali gang problem, stating, “We have to be honest, right? We do have a gang problem. We do have a Somali gang problem, and we know who these kids are.”
Political and Community Concerns
Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota called for a crackdown on Somali gang violence, citing past issues including fraud and violence. “These Somali gangs have shot up high school graduations and assaulted players on opposing basketball teams with tire irons,” Emmer said.
Somalis make up roughly 2% of the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro population but account for at least 13% of its gang population, according to Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher.
Source: Daily Wire
