MN High School Basketball Player Hit With Tire Iron During Game

NEW HOPE, MN — Five teenagers are accused of attacking a Fridley High School varsity basketball player with a tire iron during a game at Robbinsdale Cooper High School on Tuesday night

The charges are as follows:

• Yahya Abdul Khanyare, 18
  • Second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon
  • Second-degree riot, armed with a dangerous weapon.
• Dursa Muktar Mohamed, 18
  • Second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon
  • Second-degree riot, armed with a dangerous weapon
  • Fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle
• Ayub Mohamed Ali, 19
  • Second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon
  • Second-degree riot, armed with a dangerous weapon
• Salman Abdurashid Mohamed, 16
  • Second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon
  • Second-degree riot, armed with a dangerous weapon
• Mubashir Nasir Ali, 18
  • Second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon
  • Second-degree riot, armed with a dangerous weapon

In Minnesota, a second-degree assault charge carries a maximum of seven years in prison and a $14,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, New Hope police responded to Robbinsdale Cooper High School on Jan. 28 following reports of an assault during a boys' basketball game.

Authorities said a juvenile male was seriously injured after being attacked on the visiting team's bench. The victim was struck on the head with a metal tire iron, punched, and almost stabbed with a knife.

Emergency responders treated the victim at the scene before transporting him to a nearby hospital, where he received six staples to close the head wound.

Surveillance footage shows a group of five suspects arriving at the school in a red sedan. They removed weapons, including a tire iron and a knife, from the vehicle before spending several minutes in the lobby, talking and conspiring, police said.

The group then bypassed the ticketed entrance and proceeded directly to the victim’s bench. According to the criminal complaint, Yahya Abdul Khanyare, one of the suspects, ran toward the victim, raised his hand, and struck him in the head with the tire iron.

Police said the victim had no warning of the attack.

Others joined in, striking the victim with fists and weapons. One suspect attempted to stab the victim with a knife, while others appeared to act as lookouts.

After the assault, the victim was shielded by teammates and coaches, and the suspects fled the gym.

Video footage shows Ayub Mohamed Ali conspiring with the group before the attack, entering the gym, observing the assault, and later fleeing with the others, according to the criminal complaint.

The suspects returned to their vehicle and fled the area at high speed, prompting a police chase, authorities said.

The vehicle crashed while attempting to enter a nearby freeway on-ramp. Police arrested five individuals from the car.

The driver of the vehicle was identified by police as Dursa Mukhtar Mohamed.