Utah rally protests cop shooting of Abdi Mohamed

Salt Lake Tribune/Lennie Mahler

SALT LAKE CITY — Protests erupted here Feb. 27 after police shot and critically wounded 17-year-old Abdi Mohamed, a refugee from Kenya who moved to Utah with his family 11 years ago.

Some 500 people marched and rallied Feb. 29 in an action called by Utah Against Police Brutality. Among those addressing the crowd was Selam Mohammad, above with microphone, a 19-year-old friend of Abdi who was with him when he was shot. Mohammad is standing next to Muslima Waladi, Abdi’s cousin. The youth remains in critical condition.

Abdi had picked up part of a broomstick to try and stop an altercation moments before police arrived, Mohammad told reporters. “They told him to put it down, once,” he said, and “started shooting him as soon as he turned around. He wasn’t even swinging at anybody. He didn’t know the cops were behind him. He just dropped.”

Authorities have refused to identify the cops who shot the youth or release their body camera footage.

After the shooting area residents took to the streets. They were met by some 100 cops, dozens decked in riot gear, who fired pepper spray and Tasers at the crowd.

— CHRIS HORNER AND BRIAN WILLIAMS