Man Charged With Firebombing Gay-Owned MN Shop

Minneapolis’s Fox affiliate reports:

A Fridley man faces arson charges after authorities believe he threw a Molotov cocktail-style explosive at an ice cream shop in northeast Minneapolis – twice. Firomsa Ahmed Umar, 30, is charged with two counts of first-degree arson after alleged attacks that occurred on Oct. 19 and 20.

According to charges filed in Hennepin County, Minneapolis police received reports around 10:45 p.m. that a man – later identified as Umar – was seen throwing a lit Molotov cocktail through a window at a business located on the 300 block of Hennepin Ave.

The following day, around 12:52 p.m., police received another report of the same incident occurring. Charges state the business suffered damage to the front-facing window, nearby walls and cement.

Minneapolis’s CBS affiliate reports:

Fletcher’s Ice Cream & Café in northeast Minneapolis is more than just your neighborhood ice cream shop. It was founded as a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. “It’s nerve racking. It’s scary,” said owner Jason Fletcher. Fletcher believes the Pride flag hanging outside is why someone targeted the shop.

“It happened twice here. It didn’t happen at the bar next door, it happened here,” he said. “There’s a reason why. And I’d like to think it’s not my flag, but it very well could be.” No one was injured in the attacks, but the damage is clear. Despite everything, Fletcher plans to reopen with the flag flying proudly.

Pro-LGBTQ Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey lives on the same block as the ice cream shop. Outraged locals are lining up to patronize the shop and its owner is interviewed in the clips below.

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