Minneapolis car theft becomes hit-and-run

[Ni99a-with-bling]

Police were hunting for a man who stole a woman's car and crushed her sister in the process.

In the confusion over seeing a thief steal her sister's car ran to help Thursday night, her sister said. On the way, somali woman cell phone slipped out of her hand and she stooped to pick it up. That's when the car thief backed into her head, crushing it against another car.

somali woman was in critical condition Friday at Hennepin County Medical Center with head injuries, relatives said.

Her sister, somali woman stood with more than two dozen members of the Somali community outside somali woman hospital room.

"I don't care [about] my car, I just want my sister back," somali woman said tearfully. "She is the only sister I have."

She said she and her sister and a friend had gone out to dinner Thursday night. After 8 p.m., the friend drove them back to their cars at 24th Street and 10th Avenue S. somali woman had started her car and had left it briefly.

somali woman saw someone sitting in the driver's seat, she said.

The man crashed her car into another at an intersection, and somali woman used the split-second opportunity to confront the thief, thinking he would get out and run away.

She opened the door and told him, "get out of the car," she recounted.

But he didn't, and he moved the car, knocking her over.

"He just wanted to get out of there and get the car," somali woman said.

somali woman ran to help.

The thief backed up and struck somali woman, who was bent down, somali woman said.

Police had a different account of the event, but acknowledged that there were language barriers and that they were still investigating.

About 4 p.m. Friday, police spotted somali woman stolen car, a 1996 Car, parked in the 2400 block of 15th Avenue S., five blocks from the site of the crime.

Police forensic analysts examined the car for clues to the thief's identity.

The tragedy has left the Somali community in shock, said executive director of the Somali Justice Advocacy Center and somali woman distant cousin.

He said several people have complained of more crime in the area.

Somali woman of Twin cities area, owns a store with her family at a mall near the scene. They have two children.

Her husband was returning home Friday from a business trip overseas, where he was buying items for the store, relatives said.

Friday night, Somalis held a vigil for Somali woman at the site of the incident.

Earlier Friday, family members and friends were keeping watch for Somali woman husband at the hospital, waiting for word from doctors about the success of surgeries.

They prayed for Somali woman and wondered how tragedy could strike so quickly against someone simply trying to help her sister in trouble.

The Somali Justice Advocacy Center is offering a $2,000 reward for anyone giving information leading to an arrest and conviction.


Pam Louwagie • 612-673-7102


To protect family privacy no names mentioned, insha allah tacaalaa we wish our somali sister and her family well.


My follow somalis in TwinCities need to becareful especially somali Mall areas, dont ever leave your car running, I know is tough in the winter you need install starter instead leave your car keys in your car, the crime is up south and north Minneapolis area.

[Kramer]

they found the car though --just from five blocks --but not the guy
that is good

u know what happen to me at mall 24, some one hit my car and drive away.
it was a Mexican guy and I chase after him for blocks but finally he escaped.

[Moguul21]

INAALILAH WAINAA ILEYHI RAAJICUUN

GABADHA GAARIGA LA JIIRSIIYEY WEY GEERIYOOTAY ILLAHEY SWT HA U NACARIISTO WALLAASHEEN LUUL IBRAHIM JANIDII FARDOWSA HA KA WARAABIYO

ALLAH YARAHMA MARXUUMA AAMIIN YAA RABI

THIS IS GOOD EXAMPLE HOW VIOLENCE CAN STRIKE SO FAST AND WITHOUT NOTICE, ALL SOMALIS IN TWIN CITIES AREA ARE GRIEVING THE LOST OF OUR SOMALI SISTER, MANY PEOPLE KNEW HER AS HONEST BUSINESS WOMAN WITH DIGNITY, RESPECT, CARING AND LOVING PERSON ITS GREAT TRAGEDY TO LOOSE MOTHER , WIFE AND SISTER THIS WAY, OUR HEARTS GOES TO HER HUSBAND, CHILDREN AND HER FAMILY.

I HOPE THE COWARD WHO DID THIS TO BE CAUGHT AND BROUGHT TO JUSTICE

WE LIVE IN VIOLENT SOCIETY AND WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.
ITS TIME SOMALIS TO UNITE AND SAY NO TO VIOLENCE AGAINS OUR COMMUNITY, WE HEAR EVERYDAY SOMEBODY GOT BEATEN, ROBBED OR EVEN KILLED BUT WE DO NOTHING ABOUT IT I HOPE THIS TRAGEDY WILL OPEN OUR EYES AND TAKE NECESSARY ACTION BY ALMEANS.

IF THIS WOMAN WAS WHITE WOMAN THE KILLER WOULD HAVE BEEN IN JAIL BY THIS TIME, THIS TELLS ME UNFEARNESS AND INEQUALITY IN THIS COUNTRY.