No Charges in the Death of Khalil Azad

December 6, 2023

ROBBINSDALE, MN — No charges will be filed in the 2022 death of Khalil Azad, whose body was found in Crystal Lake two days after an interaction with police.

On July 3rd, 2022, Azad was stopped by police while driving. He drove his car into a nearby ditch, crashed, and exited the vehicle. Azad ran into the woods, and was pursued by police and K-9 units to no avail.

Two days later, Azad’s body was found along the shore of Crystal Lake and his cause of death was officially ruled to be drowning.

However, Azad’s family insisted he could swim and noted that his body had, what appeared to be, dog bites on it and showed evidence that he was beaten.

The family was eventually shown body and dash cam footage, but suggested the footage left them with more questions than answers.

Earlier this week, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty announced no charges would be filed against officers and stated that the investigation “uncovered no evidence that any member of law enforcement had any physical contact with Khalil after the initial traffic stop."

Advocates are hosting a press event and action today at noon at the Hennepin County Government Center (skyway level) demanding justice for Khalil.