Recent violence reflects a changing landscape in Mankato
A murder on Sunday morning followed by a drive by shooting into a house on Monday evening has rattled the normally peaceful city of Mankato. A review of violent crime data held by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) indicates these violent incidents are part of trend of increased violent crime in the city in 2025.
Sunday’s Murder
On Sunday morning at 9:30 am, A’Quan Kaishaid Laurence Thornton, 23, shot and killed Muridi Hassan Hussein, 27, as Hussein and three others drove past Thornton outside an apartment building at 428 Holly Lane. Thornton was arrested by Mankato police a short time later as he was leaving the apartment complex with the murder weapon in his waistband.
Investigation has revealed that Thornton is dating Hussein’s ex-girlfriend and that there was some sort of underlying threat of money owed by Thornton to Hussein for THC cartridges. Whatever the case, when Hussein and the others drove by Thornton as he stood outside the apartment, it ended with Thornton firing multiple rounds into Hussein’s car, fatally striking Hussein in the neck.
The investigation was handled by the Mankato Police Department, the BCA, and the River Valley Drug Task Force.
On Wednesday the Blue Earth County Attorney’s Office (BECA) charged Thornton with Murder in the 2nd Degree. The BECA had requested a $4 million bail, or a $2 million bail with conditions, but the Judge reduced those amounts to $3 million and $1 million respectively.
In previous documentation, BECA had noted that Thornton was not a long-term resident of Mankato and had a Brooklyn Center address. Despite this Thornton is no stranger to Mankato police or the district court system.
In March 2023 Thornton fought with officers at 2 AM as they attempted to arrest one of Thornton’s friends. Thornton was charged with 4th Degree Assault, Obstructing a Peace Officer with Force, and Disorderly Conduct, but was eventually allowed to plead guilty to just Obstructing with Force. In August 2023, the court sentenced Thornton to 364 days in jail but stayed the sentence for one year and placed him on probation instead.
In July 2024, Thornton was arrested and charged with Felony Burglary in the 1st Degree, Felony Domestic Strangulation, Felony 2nd Degree Assault, Felony Terrorist Threats, and Gross Misdemeanor Carrying a Pistol without a Permit. This also triggered a violation of his probation from the Obstruction conviction – for which his was resentenced to serve 180 days in jail. Unfortunately, Thornton was allowed to plead guilty to a single count of Misdemeanor 5th degree assault. While the available records are unclear, these outcomes are often due to a domestic victim who is reluctant to prosecute. Regardless, Thornton was sentenced in May 2025 to serve 90 days in jail, with 66 days stayed for one year. By late June 2025 Thornton was released from custody.
Less than five months later Thornton shot and killed Hussein.
Monday evening’s drive by shooting
On Monday evening, a car drove past a house at 510 North 4th St. and fired 7 rounds into the house, piecing windows and siding. Reports indicate the house is rented by three Minnesota State Mankato college students. When interviewed by KEYC the young men declined to be identified, but acknowledged they were home when the shooting occurred and that the bullets entered the home just over their heads.
There is not indication either way on whether this drive by shooting is at all related to Sunday’s murder.
No arrests have been made, and no further information has been released.
The bigger picture
The incidents have members of the community concerned – and rightfully so. Comments on social media reflect frustration over perceived increases in crime being committed by recent newcomers to the area.
While I’m unable to verify this concern, I can say that according to crime data reported to the BCA, the rate of violent crime (defined as murder, aggravated assault, robbery, and rape) in Mankato is on pace in 2025 to be higher than any year since 2020, at 4.31/1,000. For reference, the statewide violent crime rate is 2.58/1,000.
Source: Minnesota BCA Crime Data Explorer, and World Population Review, Mankato
On the “newcomer” concern, there isn’t any great data set that captures how long offenders have lived in a particular area. But demographic data does shed light on where some of these concerns might be coming from. The proportion of African Americans in Mankato has effectively doubled since 2000 according to US Census Data – growing from 3.5% of the population in 2000 to 6.8% of the population in 2025.
Unfortunately despite representing just 6.8% of Mankato’s population, African Americans represented 45.3% of the violent crime offenders in 2025. While discussion of such data is often met with concern by social justice advocates, it would be negligent to avoid pointing out such a disproportionate level of violent offending by any particular demographic. The disproportion is jarring and is in need of more attention and discussion, not less.
Mankato violent crime demographics – 2025. Source: Minnesota BCA Crime Data Explorer
Takeaway
It may be too early to sound alarms, but Mankato should be aware of the patterns that have befallen other areas across the state and nation when it comes to public safety. Fostering an inconsequential criminal justice system that is more concerned with social justice narratives than protecting the public from violent crime, has destroyed many areas.
Responsible, law abiding citizens of all demographics, willing to share their concerns and expectations with public officials, represents an appropriate exercise of civic engagement.
Get engaged Mankato!
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