Inset: Mohamed A. Hared (Dakota County Jail). Background: Amazon Fulfillment Center in Minnesota where he killed a co-worker over a missing flashlight (Google Maps).
A 26-year-old employee at an Amazon Fulfillment Center in Minnesota has been sentenced to prison for fatally shooting a colleague during a dispute over a missing flashlight accessory.
Mohamed A. Hared admitted to second-degree murder without intent and received a sentence of just over 10½ years for the killing of Ahmed Ibrahim Cariif, according to a press release. Hared has been credited for the 700 days he has already spent in custody.
The incident, detailed in a probable cause arrest affidavit, unfolded when officers from the Lakeville Police Department responded to several 911 calls around 4 a.m. on June 29, 2024. Reports indicated a shooting had occurred in the parking lot of the Amazon facility located on the 9800 block of 217th St. W. in Dakota County. Hared himself was among those who called 911, claiming he had “accidentally” shot his co-worker.
Upon arrival, first responders discovered Cariif face down between two vehicles, while Hared stood nearby holding a firearm. Another individual, referred to as “Witness 1,” also contacted authorities and awaited their arrival inside the facility. Tragically, Cariif was declared dead at the scene.
Authorities learned that Hared, Cariif, and the witness were colleagues and had traveled to work together using the witness’s vehicle.
Speaking to police, Hared — who has a firearm permit — said he brought his gun with him to work but left it in the witness’ car. At 1 a.m., he was on break and went out to the car and found his gun was still there, but claimed that a flashlight attachment on the firearm was missing. Hared accused Cariif and the witness of stealing the flashlight, which both denied.
The trio had another break at 4 a.m. and agreed they would all go and look for the flashlight in the car. Hared told police he put the gun back in his waistband while they searched.
Hared claimed that when he “politely” asked Cariif to return his flashlight, Cariif “became upset and made a stance indicating he wanted to fight.” He claimed Cariif “advanced” on him and threw a punch so Hared “had no other choice but to defend himself.”
According to Hared, he tried to run away, but Cariif chased after him and cornered him, which is when he pulled out the gun and said, “Stop man, I don’t want to have to use this,” but that did not deter Cariif, whom he claimed “continued to advance” on him.
“I don’t know if he reached for my gun but as soon as he jumped on me, out of nowhere I heard the first shot, I don’t know if I hit anything else,” Hared said, per police.
Hared told police that Cariif then began strangling him and attempted to pry the gun away from him, which is when the weapon accidentally fired and struck Cariif.
However, testimony from the witness, which was corroborated by security camera footage, undercut several of the defendant’s claims, police said.
The witness told police that when he and the other men couldn’t find the flashlight, he suggested they call security to review surveillance footage of the parking lot, but Hared refused.
“No. You guys took my flashlight,” Hared allegedly told the other two men. “I want my flashlight back. No one’s going home today.”
Hared and Cariif then got into a brief physical altercation that the witness broke up. Minutes later, there was a second physical altercation during which Hared took out his gun.
“When (Hared) pulled it out, (Cariif) tried to grab the gun. (Hared) shot towards (Cariif). The bullet struck the car,” the affidavit states. “(Cariif) then yelled ‘Don’t shoot me.’ Witness 1 yelled ‘Don’t shoot.’ (Hared) fired a second shot and (Cariif) fell to the ground. Witness 1 believes there was approximately three to five seconds in between the fired shots. Witness 1 ran inside the building out of fear of being shot and to call for help.”
A review of security camera footage showed that Hared threw the first punch in the men’s first altercation and that at no point during either fight did he attempt to retreat despite having multiple opportunities to do so.
“Instead, he engaged in the fight and at 4:09 a.m. (Cariif) was shot and fell to the ground in the walkway,” the complaint said.
An autopsy revealed that the bullet entered Cariif’s chest and struck his heart, lung, and aorta.