MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – A community is in mourning after 34-year-old Riah Samuels was brutally shot and killed outside her home on Sunday morning, in what authorities believe was a domestic violence-related attack.
The Minneapolis Police Department reported that officers were dispatched to the 5100 block of Russell Avenue North at 7:54 a.m. after multiple 911 calls of gunfire. When first responders arrived, they found Samuels suffering from multiple gunshot wounds inside her vehicle. Despite immediate lifesaving efforts, including CPR, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators say Samuels was attempting to leave in her car when she was confronted and shot ten times by her former boyfriend, a man who was reportedly under a court-issued restraining order prohibiting contact. Authorities are actively investigating the case as a domestic violence homicide, and the suspect’s identity and charges are expected to be released pending further inquiry.
For her family and friends, the news is shattering. Samuels is remembered as a devoted mother of two, whose life revolved around her children and ensuring they grew up surrounded by love. Her aunt described her as a “beautiful soul” who deserved protection and peace, not a life cut short by violence.
“She was kind, loving, and the best mother,” one friend said. “Her kids were her whole world. To know she’s gone, and in this way, is unbearable.”
Outside her home, neighbors and loved ones have built a growing memorial of flowers, candles, and handwritten notes. Strangers, too, have stopped by, shaken by the brutality of the crime and the stark reminder of the dangers many face when leaving abusive relationships.
Community advocates say the tragedy underscores the urgent need for stronger protections and resources for survivors of domestic violence. “This is not just one family’s loss — it is a call to action,” said one local organizer.
As investigators continue their work, the family asks for privacy to grieve and for prayers to cover Riah’s children, who must now grow up without their mother.
Her absence leaves a void impossible to measure, but her love and memory live on in those who knew her best.