TCC4J demands accountability from Minneapolis Police Department for Allison Lussier and Mariah Samuels

On Thursday, Oct. 30, Twin Cities Coalition for Justice (TCC4J), impacted families, community members, fellow activists, and organizers gathered on the Hennepin County Government Center Plaza at 300 S 5th St. for a press conference to "demand justice for Allison Lussier and Mariah Samuels, two young women who were killed by their ex-partners after the Minneapolis Police Department failed to take their calls for protection seriously." according to organizers.

Together, with the families of Allison Lussier and Mariah Samuels, The Twin Cities Coalition for Justice makes the following demands:
• Accountability from the City of Minneapolis for failing Allison Lussier’s and Mariah Samuel’s’ cases
• Full Minneapolis Police Department cooperation with the city auditor’s investigation
• City of Minneapolis and MPD Prioritize domestic violence cases
• Terminate MPD Chief Brian O’Hara
• Amend the Minneapolis City Charter to establish an all-elected Civilian Police Accountability Commission to have full authority over MPD

"MPD has repeatedly failed to protect victims of domestic and intimate partner violence, or take their cases seriously. MPD failed to investigate the February 2024 death of Allison Lussier, an Anishinaabe woman, despite the fact that Lussier died after several months of making calls to MPD and reporting fear for her safety from her abusive ex-partner, Chuck Foss. According to the city auditor, MPD is currently engaging in active 'resistance and delay' to inhibit their investigation," according to a TCC4J press release. "Based on credible evidence, Lussier’s family believe she was killed by her abuser, and has been calling for charges against Foss for over a year. We reject Chief O’Hara’s false statement that Allison died from a drug overdose, which is in direct contradiction to the autopsy report, which indicates she died due to a traumatic brain injury. We stand with Allison Lussier’s family in calling for the termination of Police Chief Brian O’Hara!

"Mariah Samuels, a Black woman and a mother of two young children, was killed on September 14, 2025 by her ex-partner. Samuels also reported her abuse to MPD for months, due to credible fear for her safety. Samuels was granted an Emergency Order For Protection by a Judge just weeks prior to being murdered. Despite Samuels going to the courts and pleading for months for MPD to do something about the threats to her life, her calls went unheard. Two children have now lost their mother. 

"These two cases highlight the egregious failures of MPD to protect Black and indigenous women. This failure is not due to a lack of resources, as MPD has seen major funding increases in recent years. These cases show a lack of will by MPD Chief O’Hara and Mayor Jacob Frey to prioritize domestic violence. We stand with the families of Allison Lussier and Mariah Samuels and call for our demands to be implemented immediately!"