Story perspectives

Ramsey Sheriff Creates Task Force to Curb Somali Gang Violence

By Drooid · Oct 8, 2026, 4:38 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Fletcher Creates Taskforce

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher created a task force to combat Somali gang violence in Minnesota.
A shooting at Eden Prairie High School homecoming on Oct. 2 injured a 17-year-old Somali teen and an 18-year-old.
Fletcher said 12 Somali gangs are linked to 14 murders and over 100 shootings in recent years.
Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case urged a regional task force that includes law enforcement, prosecutors, schools and Somali leaders.

Summary

Police Investigate Shooting

Police are investigating whether the Eden Prairie High School shooting is gang-related.
Both shooting victims are Somali and known to law enforcement.
The homecoming football game was halted in the fourth quarter and the stadium was evacuated.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty called the idea of Somali gangs “fiction” in a December 2025 video.

History

Historical Context

Following the Somali civil war, the early-1990s saw the first wave of refugees settle in Minneapolis through voluntary agencies (VOLAGs), growing to roughly 25,000 Somali-born residents by 2024. Their rapid expansion—evidenced by a 250 % rise in language services by 2000—has prompted Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher’s task force and prosecutor Mary Moriarty to target twelve gangs linked to over 100 shootings.

1 of 3

Fletcher Creates Taskforce

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher created a task force to combat Somali gang violence in Minnesota.
A shooting at Eden Prairie High School homecoming on Oct. 2 injured a 17-year-old Somali teen and an 18-year-old.
Fletcher said 12 Somali gangs are linked to 14 murders and over 100 shootings in recent years.
Eden Prairie Mayor Ron Case urged a regional task force that includes law enforcement, prosecutors, schools and Somali leaders.

1 / 3