Richfield Man Turns Himself in for Mpls. Shooting

Timothy L. Harper, 23, of Richfield surrendered to the Minneapolis Police Department this past Tuesday on charges stemming from the June 13 shooting of 42-year-old Macdad Abdullahi. The shooting occurred at Minneapolis' Franklin Library, located in the 1300 block of Franklin Avenue E.

According to a report by the Star Tribune, after turning himself into police, Harper admitted shooting Abdullahi, who had emigrated to the U.S. from Sudan two years ago. 

Abdullahi, who was homeless at the time of the attack, was paralyzed from the waist down as a result of the shooting. He was brushing his teeth in a library bathroom when Harper approached him, saying something Abdullahi couldn't understand, police reported. The bullet struck Abdullahi's spine, causing irreversible damage.

Last month Harper was charged with first-degree assault by warrant. He remains in Hennepin County jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

It remains unclear if Harper had a motivation for the alleged shooting. He and Abdullahi were both known patrons of the Franklin Library, as well as the main library in downtown Minneapolis.