Two men face federal charges for illegal machineguns following gang-related shootings at graduation ceremonies

Hamza Abdirashiid Said, 20, and Amiir Mawlid Ali, 18, were both charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office Wednesday
Amiir Mawlid Ali, 18, (left) and Hamza Abdirashiid Said (right), 20 who have both been charged with illegally possessing machine guns according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Amiir Mawlid Ali, 18, (left) and Hamza Abdirashiid Said (right), 20 who have both been charged with illegally possessing machine guns according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Photo credit (Sherburne County Sheriff's Office)

The Department of Justice has filed charges following a shooting during a high school graduation at the University of Minnesota's Mariucci Arena last week.

Hamza Abdirashiid Said, 20, and Amiir Mawlid Ali, 18, have been charged federally with unlawfully possessing machineguns, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.

“High school graduation ceremonies are a rite of passage. A time for friends and family to come together to celebrate one of life’s major milestones.  To bring machineguns and violence to such a ceremony is immoral and shameful,” said Thompson.  “On behalf of all Minnesotans, I want to express a sense of moral outrage at these crimes and assure the public that the perpetrators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

On May 30, 2025, at approximately 8:00 p.m., University of Minnesota Police (UMPD) responded to a report of a shooting at the Mariucci Arena on the University of Minnesota Campus.

The arena was hosting the Wayzata High School graduation ceremony at the time of the shooting. Officers found a chaotic scene in which two victims—both attendees of the graduation ceremony—suffered gunshot wounds.

Hennepin County has already charged Said in connection with the shooting outside Mariucci Arena. He made his first court appearance on the charges Tuesday. He's being held in Hennepin County on a $300,000 bond.

Both men are now facing these new federal charges.

According to court documents, on June 3, 2025, Minneapolis Police officers observed a vehicle fail to stop at an intersection. The vehicle then accelerated aggressively through the intersection, and officers noted the windows were tinted to such a degree that they could not observe the interior of the vehicle. The officers initiated a traffic stop and identified three occupants of the vehicle.

According to the Justice Department, an MPD officer recognized the front passenger as Amiir Ali.  The officer knew from prior investigations that Ali was associated with multiple recent gang-related shootings and was known to carry firearms.  The occupants stated they were heading to the Edina High School graduation ceremony at the University of Minnesota.

A Glock 10mm semiautomatic firearm under Ali’s seat. Ali was arrested when he was located by police responding to the June 6, 2025 shooting at the Burnsville High School graduation ceremony.

The 9mm semiautomatic pistol was equipped with a high-capacity extended magazine and a machinegun conversion device, commonly called a “switch.”  Switches turn semi-automatic handguns into fully automatic machineguns.  Said has been federally charged by complaint with unlawful possession of a machinegun.

Featured Image Photo Credit: (Sherburne County Sheriff's Office)