Federal agents arrested 18-year-old Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, for allegedly planning a mass shooting at the Mall of America. Authorities reported Wednesday that the arrest occurred in a Richfield park after Mohamud purchased a rifle and 200 rounds of ammunition for $600 from an undercover FBI employee posing as a member of the Islamic State group.
The FBI had monitored Mohamud since December 2024, when he began communicating with a confidential informant. According to a criminal complaint, Mohamud initially expressed interest in traveling to Somalia to fight for al-Shabab or the Islamic State group, but later decided to attack the Bloomington, Minnesota, mall because he could not afford travel costs.
Federal prosecutors stated that Mohamud intended to target a Hmong arts celebration scheduled for Oct. 24, 2026. U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen said the defendant’s stated intention was to kill "maybe 30 to 60 people." Agents had previously visited Mohamud’s home in May 2025 to speak with his parents; his mother spoke with agents while his father declined to talk to them at that time.
Mohamud, a U.S.-born citizen of Somali descent, made his initial court appearance on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, in St. Paul. Represented by a federal public defender, he told the court he had no employment, assets, or money. His legal counsel and family members declined to provide statements following the hearing.
The arrest highlights federal counter-terrorism efforts and the use of undercover operations. U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen emphasized that the investigation involved monitoring the suspect for nearly two years, a process that included direct outreach to the suspect's family in May 2025.
The legal proceedings will move through the federal court system in St. Paul, where Mohamud faces charges related to the alleged plot. The defendant remains in federal custody following his initial appearance.