Garad Hassan Roble, a 28-year-old man from Rochester, MN, was found dead near Gamehaven Park on March 5, 2019. His body was discovered by a passing driver in the roadway in the 2300 block of 45th Street SE. An autopsy confirmed that Roble had been shot multiple times, with at least one gunshot wound to the head and another to the torso.
The investigation into Roble's death revealed that he had a recent history of violent behavior.
He had been arrested on December 23, 2018, for punching a woman and threatening her with a knife. He pleaded guilty to these charges in January 2019 and was awaiting sentencing at the time of his death. On the night of March 4, 2019, Roble was seen with a group of people at various locations, including the former Loop restaurant. Cellphone data and witness reports indicated that Ayub Abucar Hagi Iman, a 25-year-old man, joined the group around 2 a.m. on March 5, 2019. Iman picked up Muhidin Abukar, 33, and Roble before heading to the location where Roble's body was later found.
Ayub Abucar Hagi Iman was found guilty of second-degree murder in April 2022. The jury deliberated for about four hours before reaching a verdict. Iman's attorney argued that cellphone data did not necessarily place Iman at the scene of the crime, but the jury was convinced by the evidence presented. Muhidin Abukar was also charged with second-degree murder. His initial trial ended in a mistrial, and a new trial was scheduled for the following month. A. 40-caliber Glock handgun, believed to have been used in Roble's death, was found on the frozen Zumbro River near the bridge at Elton Hills Drive NW. Abukar's cellphone data tied him to that location shortly after leaving the spot where Roble was killed.
The case against Iman and Abukar was built on a combination of cellphone data, video surveillance, and witness testimonies. One witness testified that she heard Roble speaking with Abukar and another person earlier that night, during which Roble asked, 'What are you all going to do, shoot me? Are you all going to murder me?'. This complex investigation ultimately led to the conviction of Iman and the ongoing legal proceedings against Abukar.
