A 24-year-old who was angry about a flashlight attachment missing from his firearm accused his co-workers of taking it and fatally shot one of them in a Lakeville parking lot, according to a murder charge filed Tuesday.

Mohamed A. Hared, of Faribault, reported in a 911 call shortly after 4 a.m. Saturday that he accidentally shot his co-worker, Ahmed Ibrahim Cariif, 22, in the parking lot of the Amazon Fulfillment Center on 217th Street West near Dodd Boulevard and 215th Street West.

Mohamed A. Hared (Courtesy of the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office)

Hared had carpooled to work with with Cariif, also from Faribault, and another man. He said he has a permit to carry and left the firearm in the car of the man who drove.

When they were in the parking lot and looking for the flashlight attachment, Hared later told police he “politely asked for the attachment back,” but Cariif “became upset and made a stance indicating he wanted to fight,” according to the criminal complaint. Hared said Cariif tried to punch him and said “he had no other choice but to defend himself,” the complaint continued.

Hared said he ran away and Cariif continued to advance. He told police: “I don’t know if he reached for my gun but as soon as he jumped on me, out of nowhere I heard the first shot.” He reported that Cariif began to strangle him and tried to force the gun out of his hand, and the next bullet fired.

Investigators looked at surveillance video of the altercation, which showed Hared and Cariif postured to fight and Hared threw the first punch. Soon after, the men began fighting again.

“On multiple occasions, (Hared) had the ability to retreat,” prosecutors wrote in the complaint. “Instead, he engaged in the fight and … (Cariif) was shot and fell to the ground in the walkway.” He was pronounced dead at the scene.

In addition to a gunshot wound, an autopsy showed Cariif had blunt force trauma to his jaw and abrasions on his hands consistent with a fist fight.

Hared is scheduled to make his first court appearance in the case on Tuesday afternoon. An attorney wasn’t immediately listed for him in the court file.

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