A Minnesota man has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison after a workplace dispute at an Amazon fulfillment center ended in a fatal shooting. Prosecutors described the incident as a tragic and unnecessary loss of life that stemmed from an argument over a missing firearm accessory.
Amazon Worker Sentenced for Fatal Shooting of Colleague
The Dakota County Attorney’s Office announced on May 29 that 26-year-old Mohamed Aden Hared had been sentenced to 10½ years in prison for the death of his coworker, Ahmed Ibrahim Cariif.
Hared pleaded guilty in January to one count of unintentional second-degree murder while committing a felony. As part of his sentence, he will receive credit for approximately 700 days already spent in custody.
The case stems from a shooting that occurred in June 2024 at an Amazon fulfillment center in Minnesota.
Dispute Began During Carpool to Work
According to prosecutors, Hared was carpooling to work on June 29, 2024, with 22-year-old Ahmed Ibrahim Cariif and another coworker.
Authorities said Hared had brought a firearm with him and left it inside the vehicle. The gun reportedly had a flashlight attachment fixed to it.
During a break from work, Hared returned to the vehicle and noticed that the flashlight attachment was missing. He immediately accused the two men he had travelled with of taking it.
The accusation created tension between the coworkers and set the stage for a confrontation later that day.
Search for Missing Accessory Led to Confrontation
During another break, all three men reportedly searched for the missing firearm accessory but were unable to locate it.
Both coworkers denied taking the item, but prosecutors said Hared continued to blame them for its disappearance.
According to investigators, one of the men suggested contacting security personnel so they could review surveillance footage and determine whether the accessory had actually been stolen.
However, authorities said Hared rejected that suggestion. Shortly afterward, the disagreement escalated into a physical altercation.
Shooting Took Place Outside Amazon Facility
As the confrontation intensified, Hared allegedly pulled out his firearm.
Prosecutors stated that he fired one shot that struck a nearby vehicle while the other two men pleaded with him not to shoot.
Moments later, he fired again, and the bullet struck Ahmed Ibrahim Cariif.
The shooting occurred near the Amazon fulfillment center where all three men worked. Multiple witnesses immediately called emergency services to report the incident.
When police officers arrived at the scene, Hared reportedly told investigators that the shooting had been accidental.
Victim Died at the Scene
Despite emergency response efforts, Cariif was pronounced dead at the scene.
His death devastated family members, friends, and coworkers who knew him as a young man simply trying to earn a living.
The case quickly attracted attention because of how a disagreement over a relatively minor item escalated into a deadly act of violence.
Investigators later gathered witness statements and evidence that supported criminal charges against Hared.
Prosecutors Call Death Senseless
Following the sentencing, Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena described the case as a senseless tragedy.
She stated that a young man lost his life over what amounted to a trivial dispute and emphasized that the outcome was entirely preventable.
Prosecutors argued throughout the case that the shooting never should have happened and that safer options were available to resolve the disagreement, including involving workplace security and reviewing surveillance footage.
Court Imposes 10½-Year Prison Sentence
After pleading guilty earlier this year, Hared avoided a trial and accepted responsibility for his actions.
The court sentenced him to 10½ years in prison and granted credit for time already served while awaiting the outcome of the case.
The sentence closes a painful chapter for the victim’s family, although it cannot undo the loss they have suffered.
