Man pleads guilty to felony assault for November Mall of America stabbing

A Minneapolis man pleaded guilty Thursday to felony assault in a November knife attack on two brothers shopping inside Macy's at the Mall of America.

Mahad A. Abdiraham, 20, admitted to two counts of felony first-degree assault in Hennepin County District Court. He is scheduled for sentencing Feb. 16.

Charges stem from the stabbing of 19-year-old Alexander Sanchez and 25-year-old John Sanchez, both of Minneapolis. The younger brother suffered injuries to his head that will leave scars and cuts to his arms that went "to the bone," and he needed a blood transfusion, according to charges. His brother needed dozens of stitches, the court filing said.

No motive for the stabbings was offered in the charging document, but it suggested Abdiraham has had psychological difficulties. Last year, he was arrested on suspicion of stabbing two staff members with a pen at an inpatient psychiatric unit.

According to the criminal complaint:

Alexander Sanchez had come to Macy's with eight family members on Nov. 12 and exited the dressing room to show the others a pair of pants. He returned to the dressing room as Abdiraham was standing nearby and "looking as if he thought about going inside."

After Alexander Sanchez "tried to push past" Abdiraham upon exiting the room, Abdiraham started slashing him with a knife that had an 8-inch blade. Alexander Sanchez suffered cuts across his face and head and deep gashes to the back of his arms. Some cuts to his back made it to the bone.

John Sanchez came to his brother's rescue, as did another family member. The older brother grabbed at the knife and was cut on his hands, and suffered slashes to his back that required 42 stitches. The brothers and others subdued and disarmed Abdiraham.

Abdiraham remains jailed pending sentencing.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482