No Charges Filed in Death of Amir Locke from No-Knock Warrant Raid

The Minneapolis police officers involved in the fatal shooting death of 22-year-old Amir Locke during a no-knock warrant raid will not face charges.

On Wednesday, Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced in a statement that they are declining to file criminal charges for the February 2 incident in which Locke was killed while SWAT team officers were attempting to execute a no-knock search warrant as part of a murder investigation that did not involve him.

Following a review of the evidence, officials said, “There is insufficient admissible evidence to file criminal charges in this case.”

The statement added that they could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that police officer Mark Hanneman, who allegedly shot Locke, violated the state’s use-of-deadly-force statute that authorizes police use of force.

Prosecutors also could not “prove beyond a reasonable doubt a criminal charge against any other officer involved in the decision-making that led to the death of Amir Locke.”

“Amir Locke was not a suspect, he was a victim,” Ellison said, referencing how Locke was neither a criminal suspect nor was he mentioned in the warrant despite Hanneman allegedly shooting him three times.

In a statement to People, Amelia Huffman, interim chief of the Minneapolis Police Department, said, “We recognize the deep loss felt by Amir Locke’s family and those who loved and knew him best, as well as the profound grief in our community.”

“Officers never want to face split-second decisions that end in the loss of life. I’m thankful for the commitment of our men and women who faithfully provide police service every day, steadfast in their response in the face of danger. We do, and we must, ask much of our officers — not only to act with courage, but also with compassion and character.”

According to body camera footage released by the city, Locke was shot as he attempted to sit up on a couch in his friend’s living room, where he had been lying down. Footage shows Locke’s body wrapped in a comforter as he had a gun in his hand.

Prosecutors allege that when officers yelled at Locke to “show your hands” and “get on the ground” when they entered the apartment, Locke was allegedly under the blanket holding a gun “that was initially held parallel to the ground before being dropped to about a 45-degree angle, then being raised again in the direction of Officer Hanneman.”

Their statement added, “Officer Hanneman then fired three shots, killing Mr. Locke. Minnesota law authorizes [officers] to use deadly force while in the line of duty.”

On February 4, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner said that Locke’s death was ruled a homicide as a result of multiple gunshot wounds fired by Minneapolis police.

As reported by CNN, Locke’s mother Karen Wells said her son was working as a food delivery driver and had the gun for protection.

Wells also said her son was cremated because she didn’t want her son’s remains to stay in Minneapolis.

“Did you think I was gonna bury my son in the ground of the place that murdered him? No, wherever I go, my baby’s going. I don’t live in the Twin Cities. I left the Twin Cities. I took my son with me when I left the Twin Cities,” she was quoted as saying.

Previously, Wells told People that Locke had plans to start his own clothing line and was going to move to Dallas, Texas.

“I helped him purchase his LLC and he was starting his own clothing line, and it was titled ‘Saving the Youth,’” she said. “He felt like this country was going in the wrong direction. And therefore, in order for you to tap into saving a child before they turn into an adult, you have to start when they’re young. And that’s why he wanted to cater to the youth.”

Locke’s father, Andre Locke, also told the outlet, “He wanted to spend more time with his younger siblings and also with myself and also with some of the other family, but mainly myself.”

Our condolences go out to Amir’s family and loved ones for their loss.

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