MPD orders review and retraining after Willard-Hay domestic-violence killing
After Mariah Samuels was fatally shot in her Willard‑Hay home on Sept. 14 — allegedly by ex‑boyfriend David Wright, who has been arrested and charged with second‑degree murder and was under a court order to stay away — reviews found MPD failed to assign an investigator after an August assault despite a risk assessment, witness statement and surveillance video, and body‑camera footage contradicted an officer’s report. Chief Brian O’Hara has ordered a thorough review and department‑wide retraining on domestic‑violence protocols to be completed by the end of 2025 amid criticism over understaffing in the domestic assault unit, numerous unassigned “gone on arrival” cases, City Council demands and public rallies by the victim’s family.
📌 Key Facts
- Victim identified as Mariah Samuels; suspect identified as David Wright, who was arrested in Anoka on Sept. 15 and charged with second-degree murder after Samuels was found shot 10 times on Sept. 14; prosecutors say the criminal complaint alleges Wright confessed and that a court order required him to stay away from Samuels.
- A detailed timeline: an Aug. 21 assault (captured on surveillance video); advocate visit Aug. 26; order for protection (OFP) signed Aug. 27 and served Aug. 29; early-morning harassment texts/call attempt on Sept. 14, a 5:14 a.m. 911 call, and discovery of the shooting at about 7:50 a.m.; Samuels posted the Aug. 21 surveillance video and Wright’s messages to Facebook minutes before she was found shot.
- MPD failed to assign an investigator after the Aug. 21 assault despite a risk assessment, a witness statement and surveillance video; department triaging that prioritizes cases with in-custody suspects contributed to the assault not being assigned.
- An officer’s written report said Samuels told police she 'felt safe' and that Wright didn’t know her address, but body-camera footage reviewed by reporters shows that statement did not occur, contradicting the report.
- MPD’s domestic-assault unit is severely understaffed — currently five investigators (down from 12 in 2019) — and, as of earlier this month, roughly 49 domestic 'Gone on Arrival' cases were unassigned; domestic incidents were the fifth-most common emergency call in Minneapolis in the first half of last year and have made up about one-third of aggravated assaults since 2019.
- Chief Brian O’Hara ordered a thorough review of MPD’s handling of Samuels’ case and directed department-wide retraining on domestic-violence protocols to be completed by the end of 2025.
- The Minneapolis City Council has demanded answers from MPD, and Samuels’ family and supporters — joined by relatives of Allison Lussier — rallied outside the Hennepin Government Center calling for accountability and systemic changes to the department’s domestic-violence response.
📰 Sources (6)
Family of Minneapolis woman murdered in domestic violence case demands changes to police response
New information:
- Family of Mariah Samuels and supporters held a rally Thursday outside the Hennepin Government Center demanding accountability and systemic changes to MPD’s domestic-violence response.
- Chief Brian O’Hara said at a Thursday night news conference that MPD’s domestic assault unit currently has five investigators, down from 12 in 2019.
- O’Hara described triaging practices that prioritize cases with in-custody suspects and said, under that process, Samuels’ August assault was not assigned to an investigator — while acknowledging gaps the department is working to address.
- Retraining on domestic-violence protocols for all officers remains ordered to be completed by the end of 2025 (reiterated in this piece).
- Relatives of Allison Lussier, whose death remains under investigation, attended the rally, highlighting broader concerns about domestic-violence case handling.
Minneapolis woman’s killing exposes gaps in how police investigate domestic violence
New information:
- MPD failed to assign an investigator after an August assault on victim Mariah Samuels, despite a risk assessment, a witness statement and surveillance video.
- Chief Brian O’Hara ordered a thorough review of MPD’s handling of Samuels’ case and directed department-wide retraining on domestic-violence protocols by the end of 2025.
- MPD’s domestic assault unit currently has only five investigators and, as of earlier this month, about 49 'Gone on Arrival' domestic cases were unassigned.
- Domestic incidents were the fifth-most common emergency call in Minneapolis in the first half of last year and have comprised roughly one-third of aggravated assaults since 2019.
- The Minneapolis City Council passed a resolution demanding answers from MPD regarding its handling of the case.
- Victim identified as Mariah Samuels; suspect identified as David Wright, who is charged with her murder after she was shot 10 times on Sept. 14, hours after reporting a restraining-order violation.
Timeline of Mariah Samuels case
New information:
- A precise timeline of key events: Aug. 21 assault; Aug. 26 advocate visit; Aug. 27 OFP signed; Aug. 29 OFP served; Sept. 14 early‑morning harassment texts/call attempt; 5:14 a.m. 911 call; 7:50 a.m. discovery of shooting.
- Officer Ryan Weber’s report stated Samuels said she 'felt safe' and Wright didn’t know the address, but a review of body‑camera footage shows that statement 'never happened,' contradicting the report.
- Samuels posted surveillance video of the Aug. 21 assault and screenshots of Wright’s messages to Facebook at 7:37 a.m. and accused MPD of inaction at 7:45 a.m., minutes before she was found shot.
- Confirms victim was shot 10 times and that Wright was arrested in Anoka and charged with second‑degree murder on Sept. 15.
Charges: Minneapolis man confessed to killing ex-girlfriend after court ordered him to stay away
New information:
- Prosecutors filed charges against the Minneapolis man in the Willard-Hay killing.
- The criminal complaint alleges the suspect confessed to killing his ex-girlfriend.
- At the time of the killing, a court order required the suspect to stay away from the victim (e.g., OFP/DANCO).
Family identifies woman fatally shot at her Minneapolis home; suspect arrested
New information:
- Family has identified the woman who was fatally shot.
- Minneapolis police have arrested a suspect in the case.
- Article specifies the shooting occurred at the victim’s home.