Prosecutors Seek One Trial for Two Men Accused of Murder

(KNSI) — Prosecutors are asking for one trial for two men accused in a fatal shooting last fall.

Clay County Attorney Brian Melton filed a motion this week saying the two cases are so intertwined that the two should be tried together. Melton contends that the same evidence would be introduced at both trials.

According to court documents, 32-year-old Abdi Mohamed Abdi of Fargo was found shot to death in Moorhead on September 10th. Three days later, Idris Haji-Mohamed was arrested in Rochester for second-degree murder without premeditation. Haji-Mohamed is accused of chasing Abdi down, shooting him twice before shooting him five more times at point-blank range.

Prosecutors filed aiding and abetting charges against Ibrahim Abdiaziz Isaac of St. Cloud after investigators say Isaac drove Haji-Mohamed and one other person from St. Cloud to Fargo the day of the alleged shooting. Police say they fled the area and returned to St. Cloud, where Isaac was arrested on October 14th.

Isaac is also accused of buying a car and giving it to Haji-Mohamed. That car was identified as the one used in the crime, according to police. After the shooting, Isaac allegedly registered the car under his name and used it regularly. A search of Isaac’s home reportedly turned up bullets matching the ones used to shoot Abdi. Prosecutors say Isaac gave the ammunition to Haji-Mohamed. Isaac was charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder in the case.

In December, a grand jury indicted both men on more severe charges. Haji-Mohamed was indicted for one count of first-degree premeditated murder. Isaac was indicted on one count of first-degree aiding and abetting murder with premeditation.

Police don’t know what the relationship was between Abdi and Haji-Mohamed.

___