Hamza Abdirashid Said charged with shooting, injuring 2 at Minnesota high school graduation

Per Fox 9, 20-year-old Hamza Abdirashid Said of Coon Rapids, Minnesota has been charged through a detention order with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and possessing/operating a machine gun. Authorities have not released a motive for the shooting.

University of Minnesota police were dispatched to the University of Minnesota’s Mariucci Arena at around 8 pm on Friday to reports of a shooting at Wayzata High School’s graduation. Witnesses said that they had heard two gunshots.

Authorities found one victim, a 49-year-old man, when they arrived at the scene who had an "obvious gunshot wound to the head that was spurting blood," court documents obtained by the outlet stated.

The victim said that he had been standing outside the stadium with his family after the ceremony and saw a group of men fighting or having an argument behind him before he heard a gunshot. He began to run with his family and after around 20 years, began to feel a burning sensation on his head. He touched it and collapsed.

The man was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center with a fractured skull and brain bleed, with the wound causing numbness to his right side.

A 19-year-old man also suffered a gunshot wound to his right leg and was not cooperative with officers. He was taken to the hospital for treatment.

The University of Minnesota police said that both victims had been released from the hospital as of Sunday. Wayzata officials said in a message to parents that one of the victims of the parent of a graduate.

Superintendent Chace Anderson said that investigators "have not been able to confirm any connection between the shooter or the second victim and our graduation ceremony." Anderson added, "Please know that several safety measures were in place before and during the ceremony, including operational metal detectors at all entrances, as well as the presence of school resource officers and University of Minnesota police and security personnel."

"Moving forward, we are committed to continually reviewing and strengthening our security protocols and exploring ways to prevent such incidents in the future, ultimately enhancing the graduation ceremony experience for all students and families."

Surveillance video captured several men, including Said, running southbound from the area of the arena’s east entrance, charging documents stated. Said was seen wearing garments that resembled traditional Somali clothing and was captured pulling up the front of his clothing to stomach height and reaching for his waistband.

Charging documents stated that he then extended his right hand, with a handgun in it, toward the second victim, who changed directions and ran northbound. Said appeared to fire multiple times, with people in the area ducking and running.

The suspect jumped over bushes and continued to leave the area. He placed an item in the bushes at the southeast corner of Williams area and placed his gown on the sidewalk. Police located the suspect’s gown and handgun, which had been converted to be automatic and had an extended magazine.