A crowd gathered outside of Fletcher’s Ice Cream & Café on Thursday, October 23. Jason Fletcher, owner, Michael Rainville and other community leaders spoke at the safety rally. The business was hit twice with Molotov cocktails, which are crude bombs made out of a bottle of flammable liquid and fitted with a wick, on October 19 and 20. The board in the middle of the photo is covering the damage to the windows. (Luis de Leon)
On Thursday, Oct. 23, a group of residents filled the Hennepin Avenue sidewalk in front of Fletcher’s Ice Cream & Cafe, 306 E Hennepin Ave., following a pair of attempted firebombings. A criminal complaint filed in Hennepin County District Court alleges two counts of first-degree felony arson against suspect, 30-year old Firomsa Ahmed Umar, who remains in custody.
The safety rally included words from the business owner, Jason Fletcher, and other community leaders just days after the series of attacks on the business.
The Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) reported two separate incidents where a suspect threw a Molotov cocktail at the business two days in a row.
“While we don’t know the exact reason for this act of hate and violence, I want to say that if nothing else, this is an opportunity for us to be there for each other,” Fletcher said to the crowd.
According to MPD, the first report came in on Sunday, Oct. 19, just before 11 p.m. When officers arrived, they noted a broken outer windowpane with burn marks near the front entrance. The second incident came shortly before 1 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 20. Again, officers saw the same damaged window. There were no reported injuries, according to MPD.
While further information about recovered evidence and the potential suspect was limited, MPD did share that their preliminary information indicated that a man exited a minivan, threw a lit Molotov cocktail at the building (which was closed at the time), and then fled in the same vehicle. The man duplicated the attack in the same manner the following day, according to MPD.
By 4:25 p.m. on Oct. 20, officers found the suspect in a vehicle at 15th Avenue and 4th Street SE, which is at the edge of the University of Minnesota’s campus. Officers arrested Umar and booked him into the Hennepin County jail for arson. A motive for the attacks has not been released.
The safety rally on Oct. 23, organized by Ward 3 Minneapolis City Council member Michael Rainville, saw several community leaders speak out against the violence and offer words of encouragement.
“In moments like this, it is so beautiful to see so many people coming out together to support a business and community that’s been hurt,” said Kat Rohn, executive director of the LGBTQ+ advocacy organization
OutFront Minnesota. Fletcher also took time to thank law enforcement and investigators, and had a message for other businesses.
“I also want to encourage other queer-owned businesses to really stand up for themselves, to have a voice, to not be scared to say that you are (LGBTQ+) and really just stick together,” Fletcher said.
The front of the building housing the ice cream shop typically bears a large LGBTQ+ “Progress” Pride flag. While Fletcher acknowledged a motive for the attacks had not yet been determined, he pointed to the flag in his closing remarks.
“With that said, I just want to say that this flag right there — it’s not coming down.”
A board placed over the damage from the attempted firebombings on October 19 and 20 at Fletcher’s. The location opened with normal hours directly after the events. (Luis de Leon)