Hamza Abdirashiid Said and Amiir Mawlid Ali

Hamza Abdirashiid Said and Amiir Mawlid Ali

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Two young men, Hamza Abdirashiid Said, 20, and Amiir Mawlid Ali, 18, have been federally charged with unlawful possession of machineguns in connection with a series of violent incidents that disrupted high school graduation ceremonies in the Twin Cities.

Shooting at Wayzata High School Graduation

On May 30, 2025, at approximately 8:00 p.m., University of Minnesota Police responded to reports of a shooting outside Mariucci Arena, where the Wayzata High School graduation ceremony was taking place. Officers arrived to find a chaotic scene, with two attendees suffering from gunshot wounds.

Following a swift investigation that included witness interviews and surveillance footage review, police arrested Hamza Said, who was found in possession of a Glock 9mm handgun outfitted with a 33-round extended magazine and an illegal machinegun conversion device, commonly known as a “switch.” These devices transform semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic weapons and are classified as machineguns under federal law.

Said has been charged with unlawful possession of a machinegun in connection with the shooting.

Arrest of Amiir Ali and Burnsville Connection

On June 3, 2025, Minneapolis Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that ran a stop sign and had illegally tinted windows. Inside the car, officers identified Amiir Mawlid Ali, who was already known to law enforcement for prior gang-related firearm offenses.

Ali and the vehicle’s occupants told police they were headed to the Edina High School graduation ceremony, also at the University of Minnesota. A search of the vehicle uncovered a Glock 10mm handgun with a 33-round magazine and a machinegun conversion device hidden under Ali’s seat.

Ali was later arrested again on June 6 in connection with a separate shooting incident at the Burnsville High School graduation ceremony. During a recorded jail call, Ali mentioned needing a “button”—slang for a machinegun switch—after his release, further implicating him in firearm-related activity. He has now also been charged federally with unlawful possession of a machinegun.

U.S. Attorney Speaks Out

“High school graduation ceremonies are meant to be moments of celebration, not fear,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “To bring machineguns to such sacred events is not only illegal, it’s morally reprehensible. Our office will prosecute these acts to the fullest extent of the law.”

Ongoing Investigation

Both Said and Ali made their initial court appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge John F. Docherty and are being held in custody pending further hearings.

The investigation is being led by a multi-agency task force including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), FBI Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Minneapolis Police Department, and the University of Minnesota Police Department.

Authorities continue to urge anyone with information related to these or other recent shootings to contact law enforcement immediately.