Edina Residents Confront Leaders Over Surge in Gang Violence Linked to Somali Youth

Furious residents of Edina, a Minneapolis suburb, confronted local leaders Monday night, demanding accountability for a recent string of apparent gang shootings that have shaken the once-peaceful community. The incidents, primarily involving Somali teens and young adults, have sparked fear and anger among residents who feel their concerns are not being adequately addressed.

Several shootings have occurred in Edina over the past few months, including incidents at Yancey Park on July 22 and outside Our Lady of Grace Church on September 22. While no one was injured in the park shooting, which police said struck a nearby home, the latter incident is believed to have targeted young people playing basketball. Detectives recovered 55 shell casings and torn packaging for a Glock 9mm magazine from the church parking lot, along with seven cellphones.

During a packed meeting at Edina City Hall, residents voiced their frustration with the official response. Jared Scribner, a 25-year resident, stated, "Semantics aside, we have a gang problem." He argued that the city's characterization of the events as "gun violence" was misleading, shifting focus away from personal accountability and criminal behavior.

Edina police have indicated that Somali teens and young adults "have been the targets of – or have had some level of responsibility for" the shootings. Scribner criticized the city's initial proposed response to the Yancey Park shooting, which included discussions about a soccer program, calling it inadequate.

Edina Police Chief Todd Milburn described the level of violence as "shocking." Residents like Dorinda Johnson, a school bus driver, shared concerns for children's safety, noting that many students are "really scared." Another resident, Mike Rohlfsen, expressed how the shootings have altered daily life, stating, "I don't go shopping at the Lunds to get shot at, and I don't work out to get shot at."

Similar concerns have surfaced in neighboring Minneapolis suburbs. In Bloomington, police reported an incident involving over 100 shots fired overnight, which Police Chief Booker Hodges linked to Somali-American gang activity. Hodges noted that these youths often come from affluent backgrounds, suggesting a complex set of social factors are at play. He cautioned against generalizing the actions of a few to entire groups.

In Eden Prairie, two people were injured during a shooting at a high school football game. Hassanen Mohamed, executive director of the Minnesota Somali Community Center, acknowledged the problem, stating, "We have seen the perpetration of this gun violence, and the perpetrators have been Somalis, and we have seen the victims being Somalis."

Despite differing perspectives on the precise nature of the problem—whether it's a "gang problem" with a Somali youth component, as some residents argue, or a broader "youth problem," as suggested by others—there is a clear demand for effective solutions from community leaders.