Prosecutors Drop Fatal Shooting Case Against Alexander Weiss

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) -- Olmsted County prosecutors won't pursue a murder charge against a Rochester man after two juries failed to reach a verdict in the case.

Twenty-six-year-old Alexander Weiss said he fatally shot Mohammed Rahim in January 2018 in self-defense. A criminal complaint says Weiss was driving in Rochester when he saw a speeding car crash into a storm drain.

Weiss says he pulled up to help, but Rahim backed up and his vehicle. Weiss, who has a permit to carry, says he shot the 17-year-old after he and a passenger became verbally aggressive.

Minnesota Public Radio News reports trials in May and October ended in hung juries.

County Attorney Mark Ostrem says a unanimous verdict is highly improbable, so he has a legal obligation to dismiss the charge.

(© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)