A routine shoplifting arrest in Minnesota uncovered a disturbing plot, as police discovered 24-year-old Mohamed Adan Mohamed was allegedly preparing for a religious-motivated mass casualty event with an arsenal that included high-capacity magazines, body armor, and 3D-printed weapons.
Quick Takes
- Mohamed Adan Mohamed was arrested after shoplifting over $2,000 worth of ammunition magazines, body armor, and bear spray from a Minnesota sporting goods store
- Store employees alerted authorities after noticing suspicious behavior, including wearing an oversized jacket and mask while selecting high-priced items without checking prices
- Police found a “Survival Gear List” and later discovered an assault rifle and two 3D-printed guns at his residence
- Social media posts linked Mohamed to extremist ideologies with anti-American and anti-Israeli sentiments
- Law enforcement believes they prevented a mass casualty event that would have occurred within 24 hours of the arrest
Shoplifting Incident Reveals Darker Plans
The arrest began when Mohamed attempted to steal over $2,000 worth of tactical gear from a Mankato sporting goods store. Store employees became suspicious of Mohamed’s behavior, noting his oversized jacket, medical mask, and hat, along with his peculiar shopping habits. Rather than checking prices, Mohamed methodically collected high-priced items including ammunition magazines, body armor, and bear spray. When confronted by store personnel attempting a citizen’s arrest, Mohamed fled in a Toyota Sienna minivan without license plates, nearly running over someone during his escape.
In his haste, Mohamed left behind a telling document – a shopping list titled “Survival Gear List with Alternative” that listed items such as sleeping bags, gun magazines, pepper spray, knives, lighters, and bow and arrows. This discovery, combined with the suspicious nature of the stolen items, immediately raised red flags for investigators who quickly connected Mohamed to an earlier investigation involving concerning social media posts.
Evidence of Extremism and Violent Intent
Police discovered Mohamed had posted videos on social media showing himself pointing guns at the camera, including what appeared to be an assault rifle. One particularly alarming post included a hashtag against American and Israeli imperialism. Law enforcement officials determined there were “strong indicators that Mohamed was preparing to conduct some sort of mass casualty event in the next 24 hours,” according to authorities from the Fox9 news report.
“We left with an understanding that at that moment he was safe, and that moment the community was safe,” said St. Peter Police Chief Matt Grochow, who had previously met with Mohamed before the shoplifting incident. That assessment changed dramatically after the store theft when investigators connected the dots between Mohamed’s online activities, the stolen tactical gear, and his abandoned shopping list.
Arsenal Discovery and Legal Action
When authorities tracked Mohamed to his residence through the minivan’s registration, they executed a search warrant that uncovered disturbing evidence of his alleged plans. Inside his home, police found an assault rifle matching the one featured in his social media posts, along with two 3D-printed handguns. The discovery prompted immediate action, with courts granting an extreme risk protection order that prohibited Mohamed from possessing firearms for one year.
“He has a very beautiful heart. He’s a really good guy. It’s just, he’s not mentally, physically there right now at the moment,” said Dunia, Mohamed’s neighbor and former classmate who acknowledged his longtime mental health struggles since high school.
Mohamed now faces serious legal consequences for his actions. He has been charged with felony theft and threats of violence, each carrying potential five-year prison sentences. The court set his bail at $500,000, and he remains in custody in Blue Earth County with a court appearance scheduled for May. The case highlights how a vigilant response to shoplifting may have prevented a potentially devastating attack.
