Fatal 2007 drive-by shooting suspect arrested in Florida, Walz issues extradition warrant
Booking photo of Tajiddin Akbar (Courtesy: Broward County Sheriff's Office)
A suspect in a fatal drive-by shooting that happened in 2007 was apprehended in Florida and will be extradited to Minnesota, Gov. Tim Walz’s office announced Wednesday.
The suspect, 34-year-old Tajiddin Akbar, is accused of “participating in a drive-by shooting” that killed a man and will be extradited to Minnesota.
Records on the Broward County Jail’s website show that Akbar has been in custody there since April 2015.
The governor’s office said the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office sent the formal request for interstate extradition on Aug. 10.
The drive-by shooting happened after a botched drug deal in Ramsey County back in 2007.
Two other suspects involved, Lionell Thomas and Lamont Wilson, pleaded guilty to the murder of Robert Renville and the attempted murder of two other men later in the year.
Akbar is currently being held in Florida on several charges, including first-degree murder, robbery with a firearm, aggravated battery and assault.
“There is no timeline on accountability,” Walz said in a news release. “Anyone who threatens the safety of Minnesotans will be held accountable. I am grateful to our law enforcement partners in Ramsey County and Florida for apprehending the suspect and working quickly to make sure he faces justice in Minnesota.”
The Governor’s Office said the governor issues about 100 warrants each year.