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#WeRememberMN
Violence Free Minnesota, the coalition to end relationship abuse, remembers Mariah “Riah” Samuels, the 17th confirmed victim of intimate partner homicide in Minnesota in 2025.
Mariah “Riah” Samuels
Mariah “Riah” Samuels, 34, was shot and killed in her car on September 14, 2025, outside her
home in Minneapolis. Mariah’s ex-boyfriend David Wright, 50, is charged with second degree
murder and illegal gun possession. Wright initially fled the scene, but was later apprehended by police. There were 15 discharged cartridge casings near Mariah’s body. A few hours before she was killed, Mariah texted her sister that Wright was violating the Order for Protection she had against him.
On August 26, Mariah petitioned for the Order for Protection in court. Wright received a copy of the order on August 29. In the petition, Mariah wrote that on August 21, Wright appeared outside her home to “drop off a gift” and called and texted her while outside, threatening to blow up her home. He then stalked her to a home a few blocks away where she was dropping off her son. There, he repeatedly hit her with a gun and his hand, strangled her, and threatened to shoot her and anyone else who came out of the home. According to the Star Tribune, Minneapolis police did not forward a case for consideration of charges from this assault to the County Attorney’s Office. At this time, no known statement has been given by the police indicating their reasoning for not forwarding the
case.
Wright was previously convicted of assault for threatening another girlfriend with a firearm in 2002. He was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm at that time. He was again convicted of domestic assault in 2010 for an offense in 2008. Another woman was granted Orders for Protection against him in 2020 and 2022 for stalking. At the time of Mariah’s murder, Wright was on supervised release after being sentenced in the U.S. District Court in Minnesota in 2009 to a 15-year term for illegal gun possession.
Mariah worked as a dog groomer for several years and was “very loving with her animals,” which included four cats and two lizards. She was described as “sweet, outgoing, and free-spirited,” and a “devoted mother, cherished daughter, loving sister, and friend.” Mariah “Riah” Samuels leaves behind two young boys.
Mariah's family has set up a GoFundMe to support her two young boys.
Learn more here: https://www.vfmn.org/we-remember-2025 #WeRememberMN"
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