Minneapolis Carjacking Spree Highlights Broader Safety Risks

The incident: Council member becomes a victim

In the evening of November 10, 2025, Minneapolis City Council Member Jamal Osman was sitting in his parked, rented Volkswagen SUV near the intersection of Lake Street and Portland Avenue, making a phone call, when he was suddenly confronted by two teenage boys. One of the individuals opened the passenger door and threatened to mace him, while the other indicated that he had a gun. Assessing the situation, Osman decided to cooperate quietly, handing over his keys to avoid a physical confrontation.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Osman stated, "If it can happen to a council member, it can happen to anybody," emphasizing that such criminal behavior should not become normalized in the city. Although unharmed, the council member noted that the event was a stark reminder of the work needed to ensure community safety.

Other victims and the carjacking spree

The two suspects, ages 15 and 16, were allegedly in the midst of a crime spree that spanned several hours and targeted multiple victims. According to police, the spree began around 2 PM on November 10 when the teens stole a Subaru Outback from the 1600 block of First Avenue South, after the owner inadvertently left the key fob inside.

• A terrifying attack on a mother: Around 5:15 PM, the suspects attempted to carjack a 31-year-old mother, Jackie Aguirre, near N. Elwood and Humboldt Avenues as she was strapping her 18-month-old daughter into the car seat. One suspect jumped into the driver's seat and began to drive away. Aguirre leaped into the moving vehicle's backseat, lying on top of her child to protect her. The suspect then repeatedly punched her in the face and head before crashing the vehicle about a block away and fleeing on foot. The attack left her bruised and shaken, fearing to walk to her car alone at night
• Additional crimes: Later, around 6:31 PM, the pair carjacked a Subaru Legacy on Hennepin Avenue, threatening the driver and smashing his cellphone before stealing it. Council Member Osman was their next target shortly before 8 p.m.

Police response and apprehension

The crime spree culminated in a dangerous police pursuit. Minutes after Osman's carjacking, officers spotted his stolen Volkswagen and the stolen Subaru Legacy near Lake Street and Pillsbury Avenue. When police attempted to stop them, both vehicles fled, striking several parked cars during the chase. The Subaru Legacy eventually crashed into a fire hydrant, and the two teenage suspects were arrested after a short foot chase. A replica firearm was recovered at the scene. Osman's vehicle was later recovered in north Minneapolis.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara described the behavior as "totally senseless" and noted that one of the juveniles was known to police while the other was not. In a separate, unrelated incident the same day, two adults were also arrested for an armed carjacking at a north Minneapolis gas station.

A broader pattern of violence and accident risks

This carjacking spree is not an isolated event. It follows a similar, and even more deadly, incident from September 4, 2025, when a 45-year-old career criminal, Edward Tiki Arrington (also known as Troy Mike Payton), engaged in a carjacking and shooting spree. After carjacking a woman at gunpoint, he led police on a pursuit that ended when he ran a red light at high speed and crashed into a Ford Focus.

That crash killed two 25-year-old women, Marisa Ardys Casebolt and Liberty Borg, and seriously injured Casebolt's 6-year-old son, who suffered a traumatic brain injury and bilateral femur fractures. This tragic outcome illustrates the ultimate danger of carjackings and related police pursuits: innocent bystanders can be killed or severely injured in subsequent traffic accidents.

Protecting yourself and your legal rights

Carjackings are traumatic events that can have lasting physical, emotional, and financial consequences. If you find yourself in such a situation, personal safety is the top priority. Like Council Member Osman, it is often safest to comply and avoid resisting armed assailants.

However, the risks don't end when the carjacker drives away. These crimes can initiate a chain of events, including high-speed flights from police, that dramatically increase the risk of catastrophic traffic accidents for innocent drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

If you or a loved one has been injured as an innocent victim in a traffic accident caused by a reckless or fleeing criminal, the path to recovery can be complex. You may be facing significant medical bills, lost wages, and enduring pain and suffering. While the criminal justice system focuses on prosecuting the offender, a personal injury claim may be a necessary step to secure compensation for your losses and aid in your financial and physical recovery.

For more information on your legal options after being injured in an accident, visit our educational resources, or request a free consultation today.