Relief swept the East African community in Minneapolis Saturday afternoon as word spread that police had arrested a suspect in Wednesday's triple slayings at a market in the city's Seward neighborhood.
"This is good news and will help our families a great deal,'' said Abdi Mohamed, a cousin of two of the victims, Abdifatah and Mohamed Warfa. "It's not as if this will bring them back, but it gives us hope that justice will be done. It makes me very happy."
The 17-year-old was arrested overnight, according to police spokesman Sgt. William Palmer. He is being held in the Hennepin County Juvenile Center.
Because he is a juvenile, police do not intend to release other information about him, Palmer said, adding that investigators received crucial help from the Somali community.
According to Capt. Amelia Huffman, chief of the Minneapolis Police Department's homicide unit, the search for possible other suspects continues.
"We're all looking forward to the apprehension of any other suspects," Mohamed said.
Palmer declined to say how many other suspects were being sought, adding that the arrest is "a good break for us, but it's not the end of the investigation. We're very happy."Although police initially said they believed the killings stemmed from a robbery, they're investigating other motives.
The three victims were shot to death Wednesday night in a horrific attack at Seward Market and Halal Meats at E. Franklin Avenue and 25th Avenue S.
The victims were the Warfas, who worked in the store, and a customer, Anwar Mohammed. The three were buried Friday in a Burnsville cemetery amid an outpouring of grief from members of their immigrant community.
Members of the community have no idea who the suspect is, but "there is a deeply held widespread feeling that he's a Somali," said Omar Jamal, a local Somali advocate. "The arrest shows criminals there is no place to hide in the community. It's a good start."
Hussein Samatar, executive director of the African Development Center, agreed. "This is good news -- amazing news," he said. "This is a relief for all of us."
Told how young the suspect is, Samatar added, "Goodness, that is not good news at all."
Police thank community
Palmer praised the cooperation investigators have gotten from the city's East African community, which he said is continuing.
"There have been times when we have not had the best relations with that community," he said. "This could be a tragedy where something good could come from this."
Jamal said community leaders "have been encouraging people to come forward and speak to the police. This is a good example of how when we work together with them it makes for a very fruitful relationship."
Samatar said members of the local Somali community "always try to work with the police, even when there is a language barrier or a lack of understanding of police procedures. The community's always willing and able to help."
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Staff writers David Chanen, Vince Tuss and Pamela Miller contributed to this report.
http://www.startribune.com/local/81066707.html?page=1&c=y
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written by Shakuur, January 10, 2010
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written by Bedel, January 10, 2010
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