Basim Sabri offers $30,000 reward in slaying of Minneapolis businessman

Basim Sabri, a landlord to many Minneapolis immigrants, is offering a $30,000 reward for the arrest and prosecution of the killer or killers of businessman Fuad Ali.

Sabri, owner of Karmel Mall, said he will pay $15,000 to the person who provides information leading to the arrest of the killer or killers, and another $15,000 upon a successful prosecution.

Sabri said he will work with police and Crime Stoppers to offer the reward.

Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or the Minneapolis police tips line at 612-692-8477.

Ali, 31, was found lying in the street with a gunshot wound on Wednesday and died hours later.

He was a Somali-American who ran a banquet hall at 417 E. Lake Street and who recently opened a large restaurant with entertainment at 312 W. Lake Street.

Both of those properties are owned by Sabri. He said that he had spent quite a bit of time with Ali on Tuesday and that the killing had badly shaken him.

Ali was known for supporting the arts, especially young Somali singers, community leaders have said.

On Wednesday, police responded at 12:50 a.m. to a "shots fired" call in the 2600 block of Pleasant Avenue S.

They found Ali, the father of two young sons whose wife is seven months pregnant.

Though his body was found about four blocks from Karmel Mall, Sabri said that security cameras show that Ali had not been at either mall or his new restaurant that night.

"We all have to come together as community members and community leaders to fight this horrible crime that's threatening our community," Sabri said.

"Those thugs can't possibly take over the community. And unfortunately people are simply scared to speak out."

JOY POWELL