Gathering Held 24 Hours After Minneapolis Murders

Minneapolis, Minn. -- Exactly one day after the shootings of three men in a corner grocery store, hundreds of people gathered for a vigil to remember the victims and plead for justice.

"[We] just want to know why they did this and who," said Ruqiya Kahin, a cousin of one of the victims.

At about 7:45 Wednesday night, police say two men shot and killed three men at the Seward Market and Halal Meat on E. Franklin and 25th Avenues in Minneapolis.  Police no longer believe the motive for the shootings was a botched robbery, but they are not elaborating on what the real motive could have been.

In a press conference earlier in the day, Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan called the killers, "cold-blooded."  Police are asking anyone with any information about the crime to contact police immediately.

Meantime, a large crowd of people gathered Thursday night in front of the store to cry over the victims and the violence.

"Those people who killed my brother, they're criminals.  I don't care if they're Muslims or Somalis.  I don't care what the heck they are, but they will pay for it," said Nimo Warfa, a sister of one of the victims.

Although officials haven't released the names of the victims, friends and family say two of the men were cousins.  Relatives identify the victims as: Osman Elmi, owner of the store where the shooting happened and father of six children; his cousin, Mohamed Warfa, 27, was also a father of four.  No one has confirmed the identity of the third victim.

"They are wonderful men," Kahin said.

Funerals for Elmi and Warfa will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, at the Garden of Eden Church in Burnsville.

Friends have also set up an account for the families of the men.  People can make donations at any Wells Fargo Bank -- to the Warfa and Elmi Trust fund, account number: 2655528699

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