Attorney General’s Office and Benton County Attorney’s Office secure convictions for murder in the second degree

Saleebaan Mohamed Abdirisaaq pleads guilty to second-degree intentional murder and felony murder of an unborn child following September 2025 stabbing in St. Cloud

July 10, 2026 (SAINT PAUL) — Today, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office has secured the conviction of Saleebaan Mohamed Abdirisaaq on two counts of second-degree murder—including second-degree intentional murder and second-degree felony murder of an unborn child – following a September 23, 2025, stabbing and killing in Benton County, Minnesota.   Sentencing is scheduled for November 25, 2026.

On September 23, 2025, at a residence in St. Cloud, Abdirisaaq intentionally stabbed and killed the victim, who was pregnant at the time of the stabbing. Abdirisaaq had been in a romantic relationship with the victim, who was also the mother of his child.  At the plea hearing, Abdirisaaq admitted he got into an argument with the victim, retrieved a knife from the dishwasher, and then stabbed the victim multiple times, including in the neck, chest, and arm.

Attorney General Ellison’s office prosecuted Abdirisaaq upon a referral from Benton County Attorney Kathleen Reuter under Minnesota Statutes section 8.01, which provides, “Upon request of the county attorney, the attorney general shall appear in court in such criminal cases as the attorney general deems proper.” The authority vested in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office is primarily civil.  Aside from referrals submitted under section 8.01 and Medicaid fraud, the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office does not have prosecuting authority over most criminal acts. That authority generally rests with city and county attorneys.

“Abdirisaaq’s crimes are shocking and horrifying, and we are holding him accountable for them,” said Attorney General Ellison. “My heart breaks for the victim’s family, friends, and loved ones. I will continue to partner with law enforcement across Minnesota to ensure people face justice when they commit such heinous offenses.”

Attorney General Ellison thanks the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the St. Cloud Police Department, who assisted in the investigation and successful prosecution of this crime.