A Minnesota man has been charged with murder after a fatal shooting outside an Eid al-Adha prayer gathering at Canterbury Park Expo Center in Shakopee, leaving a young husband dead and a community grieving.
The victim was identified as 26-year-old Khalid Ibrahim Abdi, a Shakopee resident and labor organizer who worked for AFSCME Council 5. Authorities said Abdi was shot outside the event center after attending a Muslim holiday prayer service with his wife.
Prosecutors charged 28-year-old Mohamed Abdirizak Rage with second-degree murder and illegal possession of a firearm. The shooting happened on May 27 outside Canterbury Park, roughly 25 miles southwest of Minneapolis.
According to charging documents reported by local outlets, the confrontation began in the parking lot after the prayer service. Witnesses told investigators that Rage allegedly approached Abdi and tried to provoke a fight as Abdi and his wife were leaving the gathering.
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Abdi reportedly told Rage that he did not want to fight and asked to be left alone. Prosecutors allege Rage continued following him, recorded part of the encounter on his phone, and physically attacked him before the shooting.
Authorities said Rage’s phone later became important evidence in the case. According to reports, the device was left behind and recovered by Abdi’s wife, who turned it over to police.
Investigators also used witness statements, vehicle information, and images to connect Rage to the scene. He later surrendered to Shakopee police.
Rage is also charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition because of a prior violent crime conviction. Prosecutors say that previous conviction legally barred him from possessing a gun.
Abdi’s death has shaken both the local Muslim community and Minnesota’s labor movement. He was remembered by colleagues as a dedicated organizer who cared deeply about workers, families, and marginalized communities.
AFSCME Council 5 said it is supporting Abdi’s family during an extremely painful time. The union described him as someone with a strong organizing spirit, a warm presence, and a commitment to working-class people.
Community leaders have also called for accountability while urging the public to remember the victim and the impact of the violence on his family. Abdi’s wife was pregnant with the couple’s first child at the time of his death, according to local reporting.
The shooting happened during Eid al-Adha, one of the most important holidays in Islam. Canterbury Park officials said the venue had hosted the Shakopee Muslim community for similar events for years without previous violence.
Officials have not publicly described the shooting as motivated by religion or bias. Based on current charging documents, the case appears to involve a confrontation between individuals that escalated into deadly violence.
That distinction matters. The location and timing of the shooting made the incident especially painful for the community, but prosecutors are currently pursuing the case as a murder and firearms prosecution.
The case is now moving through the Scott County court system. Rage is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
For Abdi’s family, friends, coworkers, and community, the criminal case is only one part of the aftermath. The killing has left a young family without a husband and father, and a community asking how a day of prayer and celebration ended in violence.
Why It Matters
The case matters because it involved a fatal shooting outside a major religious gathering, during a holiday meant to bring families and communities together.
It also highlights the deadly consequences that can follow when a confrontation escalates and a firearm is involved. Prosecutors allege Abdi tried to avoid a fight before he was killed.
The case has also affected Minnesota’s labor community, where Abdi was known for his work with AFSCME Council 5 and his commitment to organizing workers.
What Comes Next
The criminal case against Rage will continue in Scott County, where prosecutors are expected to present evidence tied to witness statements, video, phone records, and firearm possession.
Community members will likely continue supporting Abdi’s family while calling for accountability in court.
The next major question is how prosecutors will build their case and whether additional details about the confrontation will emerge as the legal process moves forward.
KSTP reported that Shakopee police arrested a suspect after a 26-year-old man was killed in a shooting outside the Canterbury Park Expo Center.
Shakopee police say a suspect is now in custody in connection with a shooting that killed a 26-year-old man Wednesday morning at the Canterbury Park Expo Center. https://t.co/HMSzBj6Hm5
— KSTP (@KSTP) May 29, 2026
