MINNEAPOLIS — The mother of a Kansas City man accused of deliberately running down a Muslim teenager says her son is mentally ill and didn't commit a hate crime.
Hawo Abdullahi of Minneapolis says her son, 34-year-old Ahmed H. Aden, needs help.
Authorities say Aden was driving a sport utility vehicle that hit 15-year-old Abdisamad Sheikh-Hussein on Thursday. The teen's legs were nearly severed and he died. Authorities are investigating it as a possible hate crime.
Abdullahi expressed her condolences to Sheikh-Hussein's family, but says his death wasn't a hate crime because her son — who is also Somali and Muslim — isn't in his right mind.
Minnesota court records show Aden was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2012, was committed to a hospital for treatment, and has a history of stopping medication.