Ali Abdula Reed, a 26-year-old man from Minneapolis, Minnesota, tragically lost his life in a shooting incident on June 25, 2023. The fatal event occurred just before 1 a.m. on Sunday near the intersection of Chicago Avenue and East Franklin Avenue in south Minneapolis.
When police officers responded to reports of a shooting at approximately 12:50 a.m., they discovered Reed with life-threatening gunshot wounds.
Despite the efforts of first responders, Reed succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that Reed had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
Witnesses in the area reported hearing an argument before the gunfire erupted, suggesting that the shooting may have resulted from a dispute. At the time of the initial reports, no arrests had been made in connection with the case, and the investigation was ongoing.
In a development several months later, in February 2024, 20-year-old Calon Hatchett was charged with Reed's murder. The case took an unexpected turn in August 2024 when Hatchett entered into a plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder, which included Reed's killing and another murder committed a month later.
The plea deal, which stipulates a 47-year prison sentence for Hatchett, has been met with disappointment and frustration from Reed's family. His parents, Amber Webber and Abdulla Reed, expressed feeling betrayed by the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, as they had initially been told there would be no plea agreement due to the strength of the case.
Ali Abdula Reed was born on December 29, 1996, and was remembered by loved ones as a smart, loyal, funny, and fearless man. His untimely death at the age of 26 left a void in the lives of those who knew him, and his case serves as a tragic reminder of the impact of gun violence in the community.
