Mother Of Amir Locke: 'I Am Disgusted With The City Of Minneapolis'

MINNEAPOLIS — The mother of Amir Locke said she is "disgusted with the city of Minneapolis" Wednesday while addressing the news that her son's killer, Officer Mark Hanneman, will not face criminal charges.

Just hours prior, Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison had announced that they are declining to file criminal charges against Hanneman.

Hanneman shot Locke, 22, during a no-knock search warrant on Feb. 2 at a downtown apartment on the 1100 block of Marquette Avenue South.

Locke was not named in the search warrant and he was not a suspect in the investigation. Locke's cousin was later arrested and charged.

"The tragic death of this young man, who was not named in the search warrant and had no criminal record, should never have happened," the Locke family's legal team said in a statement.

"The family and its legal team are firmly committed to their continued fight for justice in the civil court system, in fiercely advocating for the passage of local and national legislation, and taking every other step necessary to ensure accountability for all those responsible for needlessly cutting Amir’s life far too short. Today only deepens the resolve of Amir’s family and its legal team. We hope this deepens the resolve of the community at large as well. This is only the latest reminder that we must work even harder to protect and obtain equal justice and accountability for our communities of color. No family should ever suffer like Amir’s again."

A graphic body camera video shows an officer using a key to quietly unlock the door to the apartment where Locke was sleeping. Once inside, several officers began shouting "search warrant" and "police search warrant."

After an officer twice kicks the couch that Locke is on, Locke begins moving under a blanket, handling a handgun. Hanneman quickly shoots and kills him.

Locke's killing reignited criticism of the Minneapolis Police Department and the use of no-knock warrants from activists.

Mayor Jacob Frey also drew criticism over his reelection campaign website, which falsely claimed that the mayor had banned no-knock warrants in Minneapolis.

Frey later acknowledged that "as more and more people and outside groups began weighing in, language became more casual, including my own, which did not reflect the necessary precision or nuance. And I own that."

While the mayor did update the city's policy on no-knock or "unannounced entry" warrants in 2020, they were not banned. Frey handily won a second term on Election Day in November.

In March, Frey announced a new ban on no-knock warrants.