Man convicted in hate-motivated firebombing of NE Minneapolis ice cream shop
A Minneapolis jury has convicted 31-year-old Firomsa Ahmed Umar of arson, attempted arson, and two counts of possessing an unregistered destructive device for twice firebombing Fletcher's Ice Cream and Cafe on East Hennepin Avenue last October, attacks prosecutors tied directly to the shop’s prominent LGBTQ Pride flag. Jurors heard that on Oct. 19 Umar hurled a Molotov cocktail filled with gasoline and an "improvised napalm" mix through the front window, starting a fire that neighboring workers rushed in to extinguish before it spread; the next night he returned and threw another gas-filled bottle at the facade, but the cloth wick fell out and it failed to ignite. Multiple witnesses to the second attack identified Umar by his clothing, his minivan was captured on surveillance and at the scene, and officers later found a gas can and glass bottle inside the vehicle. Prosecutors also introduced evidence that weeks earlier Umar had spray-painted homophobic graffiti, including a slur, at a nearby apartment building, framing the firebombing as part of a pattern of anti-LGBTQ targeting rather than random vandalism. For northeast business owners and queer residents who’ve watched rainbow flags turn into bull’s-eyes, the conviction shows juries here are willing to treat politically and bias-driven firebombings as serious arson and weapons cases, not just property damage.
📌 Key Facts
- Defendant: 31-year-old Firomsa Ahmed Umar was found guilty of arson, attempted arson and two counts of possessing an unregistered destructive device.
- Target: Fletcher's Ice Cream and Cafe on East Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis' Nicollet Island neighborhood, known for a prominent Pride flag.
- Incidents: On Oct. 19, 2025 Umar threw a Molotov cocktail with gasoline and "improvised napalm" through the shop’s front window, starting a fire; on Oct. 20 he returned and threw another gas-filled bottle that failed to ignite when the cloth wick fell off.
- Evidence: Multiple witnesses identified Umar by clothing during the second attack; his minivan was seen on surveillance, and police found a gas can and bottle inside after arrest.
- Motive evidence: Prosecutors tied Umar to earlier homophobic graffiti at a local apartment, including an anti-gay slur, to show bias-related targeting.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, Minnesota reported 209 hate crime incidents, of which 45 were motivated by sexual orientation bias (21.5%) and 10 by gender identity bias (4.8%).
Minnesota - Hate Crimes — U.S. Department of Justice
Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the United States, with 64,354 Somalis comprising 1.12% of the state's total population.
Somali Population by State 2026 — World Population Review
Somali immigration to Minnesota began in large numbers in the 1990s as refugees fleeing civil war and famine in Somalia, facilitated by resettlement programs and family reunification policies.
How Minnesota became a hub for Somali immigrants in the U.S. — NPR
A 2018 study of 29 Somali American female refugees in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area found their attitudes toward homosexuality were heavily influenced by religious doctrines and cultural contexts, with many expressing strong negative feelings.
In 2023, Somali families in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, pushed for children to opt out of reading LGBTQ+ books in schools, reflecting community concerns over such content.
Somali families in St. Louis Park push to let children opt out of reading LGBTQ+ books — CBS News
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