EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – A man in his early 20s is accused of intentionally starting a house fire in Eden Prairie which sent five people, including a baby, to hospital last week.
Abdullahi Abdi Abdullahi Jr., also known as Abdirahman Abdullahi, was charged with first-degree arson, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday in Hennepin County.
Firefighters were called to a twin home in the 8000 block of Cardiff Lane in Eden Prairie last Friday around 11:30 a.m.
Crews brought the fire under control and all residents, including a 9-month-old baby, were checked out, according to city officials. The child was seriously injured and hospitalized in critical condition. The remaining four injured were hospitalized in stable condition.
Charging documents show one of the residents told investigators she believed her ex-boyfriend, Abdullahi, started the fire. Two days earlier, Abdullahi allegedly came to the house and threatened to kill the woman. She reported the incident to the police. Additionally, she told investigators that Abdullahi worked at a nearby smoke shop.
Surveillance footage from nearby businesses reportedly shows a man dressed all in black parking a red Jeep. He is seen leaving the vehicle with a garbage bag and a red gas can and walking toward the house shortly before the fire, the complaint said. About six minutes later, the man is seen returning to his vehicle and leaving at a high rate of speed.
Using the license plate number, investigators were able to confirm that the vehicle had been rented from an Enterprise in Eden Prairie several days earlier. According to the complaint, it was rented to a man who works at the same smoke shop as Abdullahi. The man reportedly told police he had rented the vehicle, but he immediately gave it to Abdullahi, who returned it to him hours after the fire.
The woman was able to identify the man in the surveillance video as Abdullahi and said he was driving the red Jeep when he threatened her, the complaint said.
Abdullahi is currently on probation for harassment and violating a restraining order against the woman and has since been arrested. His bail has been set at $100,000 with conditions.
Local domestic violence resources
Women’s lawyers
St. Paul & Ramsey County Domestic Violence Intervention Project
Minnesota day one
Esperanza United
For anonymous, confidential help, people can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224.
