A Minnesota man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after admitting he intentionally set his ex-girlfriend’s townhome on fire in an attempt to kill her. The fire placed several people, including young children and an infant, in serious danger.
Man Sentenced for Eden Prairie Townhome Fire
Abdirahman Abdi Abdullahi, 23, was sentenced to 180 months, or 15 years, in prison after pleading guilty to arson resulting in personal injury.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, Abdullahi admitted that he planned to kill his ex-girlfriend when he started the fire at her Eden Prairie townhome on May 31, 2024.
At the time of the fire, the woman was not home. However, her new boyfriend, his three young children, and the woman’s 9-month-old baby were inside the house.
Children and Infant Escaped the Fire
Firefighters responded to the fire around 11:27 a.m. and found a man outside with three children aged 1, 3, and 6.
The man told first responders that a 9-month-old infant was still inside the burning home. Firefighters later rescued the baby, who survived after receiving treatment at a hospital.
Officials said the fire destroyed the townhome and also damaged nearby properties.
Suspect Had Threatened Ex-Girlfriend
Prosecutors said Abdullahi was the ex-boyfriend of the infant’s mother, who already had a protective order against him. He was also on probation for violating that order at the time of the incident.
Two days before the fire, Abdullahi allegedly sent the woman a threatening text message and later threatened to kill her in person.
Investigators said Abdullahi used a rental car to buy gasoline before the attack. He reportedly carried a gas can and clothing to the townhome, soaked the clothes in gasoline, and set them on fire near the entrance.
Court Calls Attack “Calculated”
During sentencing, the court said Abdullahi intended to cause his ex-girlfriend’s death and described the crime as “calculated” and “cold.”
Prosecutors said the sentence followed guidelines connected to attempted murder due to the serious nature of the attack.
