Minnesota State Fair: Alleged gang members agree to skip event

Six individuals identified as members of two alleged Somali gangs, the Muddy and The Ville, have entered into agreements to avoid the 2026 Minnesota State Fair. In a joint stipulation filed in Ramsey County District Court, three men identified as members of the Muddy gang agreed to skip the fair and avoid a designated “safety area” around the fairgrounds from August 27 to September 7. In exchange for adhering to these terms, prosecutors have agreed to dismiss them from the ongoing lawsuit.

The legal action was initiated by the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office and the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office to seek temporary injunctions against 10 individuals. Prosecutors argued that the injunctions were necessary to prevent gang gatherings following several violent incidents, including a 2024 shooting in Falcon Heights, a 2025 brawl at the fairgrounds, and a May 2026 shooting in St. Paul.

Law enforcement officials testified to the gang affiliations of the individuals using criteria from the state’s Gang and Drug Oversight Council, citing evidence such as social media posts, surveillance footage, and arrest records. The proposed injunctions aimed to allow law enforcement to arrest gang members who violated the order within the safety zone without needing separate probable cause for another crime.