Wednesday, December 15, 2021
An 18-year-old Richfield man is charged with plotting an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at the Mall of America after buying an inert rifle from an undercover FBI employee.
Federal agents say they stopped a planned ISIS-inspired mass shooting at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. The Justice Department announced on Wednesday, October 7, that Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud, 18, of Richfield, was arrested the evening before. Prosecutors say he had just bought what he believed was an AK-47-style rifle, four 30-round magazines and about 200 rounds of ammunition from an undercover FBI employee for about $600. The rifle was inert, so no working weapon ever reached him.
According to the criminal complaint, Mohamud began messaging an FBI confidential source in December 2024. In July 2026 he allegedly talked about attacking the mall and said he wanted to kill 30 to 60 people. Prosecutors say he later sent a video pledging allegiance to ISIS. In September he allegedly picked October 24 as the date, when a Hmong Arts Celebration was expected to draw large crowds to the mall. He is charged with knowingly receiving a firearm and ammunition to commit a federal crime of terrorism. A complaint is only an allegation, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen said investigators believe Mohamud acted alone. FBI Minneapolis Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dotson said the FBI moves quickly when it has credible evidence of a planned attack. The Mall of America said it keeps multiple layers of security and will keep working with law enforcement. Mohamud made his first court appearance in St. Paul on Wednesday, and a preliminary hearing is set for October 19.
Plots like this are rare, and this one ended with an arrest weeks before the planned date. The case still carries a lesson for every family. The plot came to light because the suspect talked about it. Federal threat assessment research has found that many attackers share their plans with someone before they act. If a friend, classmate or coworker talks seriously about hurting people, report it to local police or to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. A report can stop an attack before anyone is in danger.
Crowded indoor places reward a few quick habits. When you walk into a mall, notice the nearest exits and the store entrances that lead to back rooms and loading docks. Those service hallways are often the fastest way out. Pick a family meeting spot outside the building so nobody goes back inside to search for someone. If gunfire starts, run if you have a clear path, hide behind a locked door if you cannot, and fight only as a last resort. Each step of that plan is laid out in our guide to surviving an active shooter.
Where it stands now: Mohamud is in federal custody, and the case is headed to a preliminary hearing. The wider trend behind public attacks this year is tracked in mass shootings in 2026. The habit worth keeping is simple. Find the exits whenever you join a crowd, and speak up when someone talks about violence. Be Prepared Not Scared!
