Topline: There was a body, two eyewitnesses, and footage of the suspect walking up — but no memory, apparently.
Published: July 12, 2025 8:00 am ET
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Ibrahim Abukaar Abdi (via Olmsted County Adult Detention Center)
ROCHESTER, MN — Surveillance footage places him at the scene, witnesses say he pulled the trigger, and the victim is dead—but the shooter says he doesn’t recall a thing.
According to FOX 9, 31-year-old Ibrahim Abukaar Abdi faces two counts of second-degree murder, along with charges of second-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm, after allegedly shooting 35-year-old Sadik A. Yusuf on July 3 in northwest Rochester.
Police responded to The Villages at Essex Park apartment complex on 41st Street NW just before 11:30 a.m. after receiving reports of a shooting, FOCX 9 reported.
Officers arrived to find Yusuf lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to the neck. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by the Star Tribune, witnesses told investigators that Yusuf and Abdi had been arguing earlier that day. The dispute escalated after Yusuf reportedly took a bag of marijuana from Abdi. In response, Abdi allegedly pulled a gun from a satchel-style bag and shot Yusuf.
Another individual who had been with both men earlier that morning corroborated the witness account and told police he left to meet a friend for lunch. Later, Abdi contacted him and showed up at his home, saying he had an emergency. The witness described Abdi as acting “weird” and “different” and provided investigators with the number Abdi used to call him.
Investigators traced Abdi’s cellphone activity on July 7 and determined he was still inside the same apartment complex where the shooting occurred. He was arrested without incident.
During a police interview, Abdi denied knowing the victim and claimed he wasn’t at the apartment complex on the day of the shooting. He also said he couldn’t recall where he was on July 3. But surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed Abdi walking toward the area of the shooting just before it happened. Additional video from a nearby Hy-Vee also placed him with the two witnesses earlier that day.
When confronted with the video evidence, Abdi responded, “Yeah, that’s crazy. I don’t remember,” according to the complaint.
The shooting marked Rochester’s first homicide of 2025. The city recorded three in all of 2024.
Court records indicate Abdi has prior juvenile convictions for second-degree burglary and threats of violence, offenses that legally bar him from possessing firearms or ammunition. He is scheduled to make his next court appearance on July 22.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Murder Suspect Confronted With Video, Eyewitnesses: “Yeah, That’s Crazy. I Don’t Remember”
There was a body, two eyewitnesses, and footage of the suspect walking up — but no memory, apparently.
By Jacob Charles
Published: July 12, 2025 8:00 am ET
Ibrahim Abukaar Abdi (via Olmsted County Adult Detention Center)
ROCHESTER, MN — Surveillance footage places him at the scene, witnesses say he pulled the trigger, and the victim is dead—but the shooter says he doesn’t recall a thing.
According to FOX 9, 31-year-old Ibrahim Abukaar Abdi faces two counts of second-degree murder, along with charges of second-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm, after allegedly shooting 35-year-old Sadik A. Yusuf on July 3 in northwest Rochester.
Police responded to The Villages at Essex Park apartment complex on 41st Street NW just before 11:30 a.m. after receiving reports of a shooting, FOCX 9 reported.
Officers arrived to find Yusuf lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to the neck. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by the Star Tribune, witnesses told investigators that Yusuf and Abdi had been arguing earlier that day. The dispute escalated after Yusuf reportedly took a bag of marijuana from Abdi. In response, Abdi allegedly pulled a gun from a satchel-style bag and shot Yusuf.
Another individual who had been with both men earlier that morning corroborated the witness account and told police he left to meet a friend for lunch. Later, Abdi contacted him and showed up at his home, saying he had an emergency. The witness described Abdi as acting “weird” and “different” and provided investigators with the number Abdi used to call him.
Investigators traced Abdi’s cellphone activity on July 7 and determined he was still inside the same apartment complex where the shooting occurred. He was arrested without incident.
During a police interview, Abdi denied knowing the victim and claimed he wasn’t at the apartment complex on the day of the shooting. He also said he couldn’t recall where he was on July 3. But surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed Abdi walking toward the area of the shooting just before it happened. Additional video from a nearby Hy-Vee also placed him with the two witnesses earlier that day.
When confronted with the video evidence, Abdi responded, “Yeah, that’s crazy. I don’t remember,” according to the complaint.
The shooting marked Rochester’s first homicide of 2025. The city recorded three in all of 2024.
Court records indicate Abdi has prior juvenile convictions for second-degree burglary and threats of violence, offenses that legally bar him from possessing firearms or ammunition. He is scheduled to make his next court appearance on July 22.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Murder Suspect Confronted With Video, Eyewitnesses: “Yeah, That’s Crazy. I Don’t Remember”
There was a body, two eyewitnesses, and footage of the suspect walking up — but no memory, apparently.
By Jacob Charles
Published: July 12, 2025 8:00 am ET
Ibrahim Abukaar Abdi (via Olmsted County Adult Detention Center)
ROCHESTER, MN — Surveillance footage places him at the scene, witnesses say he pulled the trigger, and the victim is dead—but the shooter says he doesn’t recall a thing.
According to FOX 9, 31-year-old Ibrahim Abukaar Abdi faces two counts of second-degree murder, along with charges of second-degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm, after allegedly shooting 35-year-old Sadik A. Yusuf on July 3 in northwest Rochester.
Police responded to The Villages at Essex Park apartment complex on 41st Street NW just before 11:30 a.m. after receiving reports of a shooting, FOCX 9 reported.
Officers arrived to find Yusuf lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to the neck. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by the Star Tribune, witnesses told investigators that Yusuf and Abdi had been arguing earlier that day. The dispute escalated after Yusuf reportedly took a bag of marijuana from Abdi. In response, Abdi allegedly pulled a gun from a satchel-style bag and shot Yusuf.
Another individual who had been with both men earlier that morning corroborated the witness account and told police he left to meet a friend for lunch. Later, Abdi contacted him and showed up at his home, saying he had an emergency. The witness described Abdi as acting “weird” and “different” and provided investigators with the number Abdi used to call him.
Investigators traced Abdi’s cellphone activity on July 7 and determined he was still inside the same apartment complex where the shooting occurred. He was arrested without incident.
During a police interview, Abdi denied knowing the victim and claimed he wasn’t at the apartment complex on the day of the shooting. He also said he couldn’t recall where he was on July 3. But surveillance footage reviewed by investigators showed Abdi walking toward the area of the shooting just before it happened. Additional video from a nearby Hy-Vee also placed him with the two witnesses earlier that day.
When confronted with the video evidence, Abdi responded, “Yeah, that’s crazy. I don’t remember,” according to the complaint.
The shooting marked Rochester’s first homicide of 2025. The city recorded three in all of 2024.
Court records indicate Abdi has prior juvenile convictions for second-degree burglary and threats of violence, offenses that legally bar him from possessing firearms or ammunition. He is scheduled to make his next court appearance on July 22.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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