Show summary Hide summary
A Minnesota man has pleaded guilty to killing his pregnant partner and her unborn child, a case that raises fresh questions about enforcement of domestic-protection measures. Prosecutors say the attack took place on Sept. 23 in St. Cloud and that the defendant surrendered to authorities after calling 911.
What prosecutors say happened
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s office says 27-year-old Saleebaan Mohamed Abdirisaaq admitted Friday to two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of 24-year-old Falus Ali and her unborn baby, who was about 17 weeks along. According to the attorney general’s statement, Abdirisaaq used a serrated kitchen knife he located in a dishwasher and stabbed Ali multiple times following an argument.
LeBron James could tip 2027 title race: Warriors or Cavaliers facing dramatic rebuild
E. Jean Carroll awarded $5.8M after court finds defamation and sexual assault: Trump appeals
Authorities say Abdirisaaq called 911 and told dispatchers that “someone died” and that he wanted to turn himself in. When officers entered the apartment, they found Ali on the living room floor with multiple wounds; a blood-covered, roughly 5-inch serrated knife was reportedly nearby. Both Ali and the fetus were later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Household witness, family statements and prior restrictions
A 3-year-old child who was in the home at the time of the attack was unharmed and later placed with relatives. Investigators reported that the child described seeing the defendant strike Ali and mimicked a motion toward the neck.
Abdirisaaq’s brother told police the defendant called to say he had “killed his wife with a knife,” according to the criminal complaint. Court records shared by prosecutors show a history of domestic incidents: in February Abdirisaaq was convicted of violating a Domestic Abuse No Contact Order (DANCO) in Sherburne County, and he was arrested in Hennepin County in September 2024 for making threats against Ali. He had been released from custody under conditions that included no contact with her.
- Defendant: Saleebaan Mohamed Abdirisaaq, 27
- Victim: Falus Ali, 24 (pregnant, ~17 weeks)
- Charges: Two counts of second-degree murder
- Incident date: Sept. 23, 2025 (St. Cloud, Minnesota)
- Weapon reported: 5-inch serrated kitchen knife
- Child witness: 3-year-old in the home (unharmed)
- Legal history: Prior DANCO violation and an arrest for threats
- Next court date: Sentencing scheduled for Nov. 25
The case will move to sentencing later this year. Under Minnesota law, second-degree murder convictions carry significant prison terms; the precise penalty will be set by the judge after a pre-sentencing process.
Broader implications
This prosecution highlights persistent challenges in preventing lethal escalation in domestic disputes, even when protective orders and prior criminal charges exist. Advocates and law enforcement officials frequently point to enforcement gaps, service access and risk-assessment tools as areas needing attention to reduce repeat violence.
For now, the criminal plea resolves the immediate courtroom phase of the case, but questions remain about whether earlier interventions could have prevented the killing. Authorities say the child who witnessed the episode is now in family care, and prosecutors will present sentencing arguments on Nov. 25.
