Amazon Worker Sentenced to Over 10 Years for Fatally Shooting Colleague Over Gun Flashlight
A Minnesota Amazon employee pleaded guilty to second-degree murder after killing a co-worker in a car park dispute over a missing flashlight attachment.
Minnesota Amazon Employee Receives Over 10 Years for Fatal Car Park Shooting
Mohamed A. Hared, 26, was sentenced to just over 10½ years in prison for the fatal shooting of a co-worker outside an Amazon Fulfilment Centre in Lakeville, Minnesota — a killing that stemmed from an argument over a missing flashlight attachment on his firearm. Law & Crime reported the case after Hared pleaded guilty to second-degree murder without intent.
Hared received credit for 700 days already served. The victim, Ahmed Ibrahim Cariif, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Night of the Shooting
Officers with the Lakeville Police Department responded at approximately 4 a.m. on June 29, 2024, to multiple 911 calls reporting a shooting in the car park of an Amazon facility in the 9800 block of 217th St. W. in Dakota County. One of those callers was Hared himself, who told dispatchers he had "accidentally" shot a co-worker.
First responders found Cariif face down on the ground between two parked cars. Hared was standing nearby with a gun in his hand. A third man — identified in court documents as Witness 1 — had also called 911 and was waiting inside the facility.
The three men were colleagues who had carpooled to work together that night in Witness 1's vehicle.
The Flashlight Dispute
Hared, who holds a firearm permit, told police he had brought his handgun to work but left it in Witness 1's car. During a 1 a.m. break, he went to retrieve it and found the gun still there — but said a flashlight attachment was missing. He accused both Cariif and the witness of stealing it. Both denied taking it.
When the group's next break came at 4 a.m., all three agreed to search the car together. Hared told police he placed the gun in his waistband during the search.
In his account to investigators, Hared claimed he "politely" asked Cariif to return the flashlight, at which point Cariif "became upset and made a stance indicating he wanted to fight." He said Cariif threw a punch, cornered him after he tried to flee, and that the gun discharged when Cariif grabbed for it and "jumped on" him.
Witness and Camera Footage Tell a Different Story
Witness 1's account, corroborated by security camera footage, directly contradicted Hared's version of events, according to police.
When the flashlight could not be found, the witness suggested contacting security to review car park surveillance footage. Hared refused.
"No. You guys took my flashlight. I want my flashlight back. No one's going home today," Hared allegedly told the two men, according to the probable cause affidavit.
A brief physical altercation followed, which the witness broke up. Minutes later, a second fight erupted and Hared drew his firearm. According to the affidavit, when Hared pulled out the gun, Cariif attempted to grab it. Hared fired once, striking a nearby car. Cariif shouted, "Don't shoot me." Witness 1 also yelled for Hared to stop. Hared fired a second shot. Cariif fell to the ground. Witness 1 fled inside the building, fearing he would be shot next.
Security footage showed that it was Hared, not Cariif, who threw the first punch in the initial altercation. The footage also showed that at no point during either fight did Hared 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 criminal complaint states.
Cause of Death
An autopsy determined that the bullet entered Cariif's chest and struck his heart, lung, and aorta.
Hared's self-defence claim did not survive scrutiny from investigators. The combination of witness testimony and surveillance footage placed the sequence of events in direct conflict with his account, and prosecutors moved forward with a murder charge. He ultimately pleaded guilty to second-degree murder without intent.
Source: Law & Crime