Police: Brooklyn Center shooting victim targeted

The slaying at a Brooklyn Center hotel saddened the kids mentored by the victim, a Somali immigrant who told them to "make something of themselves."

By JIM ADAMS and ABBY SIMONS, Star Tribune staff writers

Last update: June 25, 2008 - 11:26 PM

A Somali immigrant who had worked as a security guard and coached teenage basketball players at a Minneapolis community center was shot to death early Wednesday outside a Brooklyn Center hotel.

Police Chief Scott Bechthold said the victim was targeted but that the shooting shortly before 4:45 a.m. outside the Crowne Plaza Hotel didn't appear to be drug- or gang-related.

Police did not identify the victim, but Omar Jamal of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center said he was Mohamed Ali Jama, 31, of Minneapolis.

The victim had come to the hotel to visit Somali basketball players he knew who were staying there after a tournament, Bechthold said. He was standing outside the front entrance with a small group when he was shot.

"We do not believe this incident is a random act, and we do not believe the community is at risk," Bechthold said.

The shooting was the most recent of several violent episodes involving Somali immigrants. Just six months ago, Mohamed Jama's brother, Arie Jama, 27, was shot and killed in the 3100 block of Pleasant Avenue S. in Minneapolis.

Police interviewed more than 100 people. The hotel was locked down and guests were only allowed out after police had interviewed them. But no one admitted to witnessing the shooting, Bechthold said.

"The frustrating part is there were people there, but they are not coming forward with information, and that makes the investigation difficult," he said.

He said some of the Somali basketball players staying at the hotel were involved in a fight police broke up about 30 minutes before the shooting. Police don't know if the fight was related or if the shooting might have been related to the stabbing of three Somali teenagers in south Minneapolis earlier in the morning.

Tears and fears

On Wednesday evening, co-workers, friends and kids mentored by Jama wept, reminisced and expressed shock and fear at recent violence in the Somali community.

"It's been so hard coping today. I didn't believe it until I saw that memorial," said Tally Squires-Washington, 28, as he gestured to a memorial for Jama at the Brian Coyle Community Center in south Minneapolis, where Jama worked as a basketball coach.

"It's so frustrating because most of this is uncontrollable," he said. "I don't want to see our community out of control, but certain individuals are out of control. And certain people aren't willing to step up and take action, but they're afraid for themselves."

Squires-Washington smiled as he recalled his friend of 10 years, who, he said, emerged from gang life to tutor, mentor and coach neighborhood kids.

Sobbing mothers and children wrote goodbye notes on the memorial.

Deqa Hussen wiped her eyes with her head scarf as she recalled Jama's importance in the life of her six children.

"I told my daughter Nurk had died," she said, using Jama's nickname. "She jumped up and said, 'What?' and began to cry. I told her somebody shot him. He was a good man. He told my kids to work hard, to make something of themselves."

Jamal said Jama's family, which includes a pregnant wife and child, is very fearful in the wake of the shooting, especially of gang violence.

Liban Ali, 8, is Jama's nephew. His shoulders drooped as he talked about his favorite uncle, who taught him to play football.

"He would always say, 'Great job, Liban,'" he said. "I loved him. He means a lot to me. I'm so sad now that he's gone, and I never even got to say goodbye to him."

Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to call 763-569-3333.

jadams@startribune.com • 612-673-7658 asimons@startribune.com • 612-673-4921

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