A Minnesota community is grieving the tragic loss of a local leader and former military medic who died following a confrontation with individuals targeting his personal vehicle last week.
The incident unfolded on Friday afternoon outside Rick’s Coffee Bar, which is run by Every Third Saturday, a nonprofit dedicated to assisting former service members. Amos Ferrier, 38, was attending a graduation ceremony.
“He was in the coffee shop and observed at least one individual, maybe two or three, but they had gone into his truck and took his bag, and he ran out to stop them,” Tom McKenna, co-founder of Every Third Saturday, told KSTP.
When Ferrier stepped outside to intervene, the situation escalated rapidly, Fox9 reported. As the perpetrators attempted to flee in a vehicle, Ferrier became trapped on the hood of the accelerating car. It is unclear if they returned to their car or drove away in Ferrier’s, according to KSTP. The driver traveled nearly an entire block before abruptly turning, causing Ferrier to be violently ejected onto the roadway.
Emergency responders transported the unconscious father of two to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he underwent urgent neurological surgery. Tragically, he never regained consciousness and was removed from life support two days later. “They did emergency brain surgery at HCMC, and he never woke up,” McKenna stated.
Law enforcement authorities acted swiftly following the fatal encounter. On Tuesday, the Minneapolis Police Department’s specialized apprehension unit located and arrested Riniyah Allen, 19, and Jalaya Frost, 18. Both young women face initial charges of first-degree murder and remain detained at the regional jail facility.
Amos Ferrier is a veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan.
He was just murdered in Minneapolis while trying to thwart a carjacking
Riniyah Allen and Janaya Frost are now facing murder charges pic.twitter.com/ZFLu3AMiNj
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 20, 2026
The tragedy has deeply shaken the local community, where Ferrier was a revered figure. He spent a decade and a half in the United States Army, enduring multiple combat tours in Afghanistan, where he was recognized for rescuing numerous comrades on the battlefield. Upon returning to civilian life, he channeled his experiences into helping other former service members transition back into society. In his professional role at the nonprofit, he managed career development programs, guided peers through complex bureaucratic paperwork to secure medical benefits, and actively participated in a newly formed suicide prevention campaign.
“He loved seeing people grow and seeing people get better and become better versions of themselves. And he brought that out in people,” said McKenna. “He was our do-it-all. He was kind of a Swiss Army knife. He ran an internship program, but he also had a huge role helping veterans with challenges like paperwork or filing claims, accessing benefits and resources. And he was part of a suicide prevention initiative we were launching. … He taught us that laughing is the best medicine. He certainly leaves behind a legacy of lives that he touched, and a way of doing things that will continue here for a long time.”
Colleagues and loved ones have established a temporary monument — featuring floral arrangements and a wooden cross crafted by Ferrier himself — at the exact location where he was injured.
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