Family questions the death of University of Minnesota student found near Meta Data Center in Rosemount

Fiqremariam “Kidus” Dereje Zewde pictured after his high school graduation with a cap displaying his chosen college, the University of Minnesota. Photo courtesy of Hawi Awash

The family of Fiqremariam “Kidus” Dereje Zewde is seeking answers after he left home to go play soccer and never returned. Zewde was later found dead less than 10 minutes from his home. 

According to family members, Zewde, 23, left his home on the afternoon of Sept. 23 around 3 p.m. to go play soccer at an indoor field, but when hours passed and he did not return, his mother became concerned. Her fears were realized with a 3 a.m. knock on the door from Rosemount police informing her that Zewde was found deceased. But the circumstances surrounding his death have left the family with several questions. 

Hawi Awash, the aunt of Zewde, said the family was told her nephew was found at the site of the Meta Data Center in Rosemount outside of the car he was driving with a wound to his head. Awash said the police believe the wound to be consistent with that of a gunshot. The question that’s being examined now is who fired the shot. 

A gun was found next to Zewde according to Awash, which to some could indicate the wound was self inflicted, but the family strongly disagrees with such a notion. According to the family, Zewde did not own a gun. 

Zewde was a student at the University of Minnesota studying construction management. According to his aunt he was on track to graduate next year and had plans to join his father in running an already established HVAC company. 

“I find it so challenging that someone who has all of that lined-up would do something to harm himself,” said Awash. “In addition, he just started boxing, he plays soccer – he was in the best shape of his life, so all of this makes it just more worrisome.” 

With the location of Zewde’s body and car being high profile, Awash is asking about footage possibly captured by Meta. She said police indicated there is footage, but it is from approximately 30 minutes prior to when Zewde was found. 

Sgt. Alex Eckstein of the Rosemount Police Department said there is a very active investigation, but was not at liberty to say much more at this time. 

“It’s definitely an active investigation, I can tell you that,” Eckstein told Power 104.7 FM. 

Results from an autopsy are not yet available. 

“We just want answers. We want to know this is being taken seriously and it is being investigated as hard as it should be,” said Awash.