Family Gathers for First Hearing of Man Charged With Killing Mariah Samuels

Family and supporters of Mariah Samuels showed up for the second day in a row for the initial appearance of Mariah's ex-boyfriend, David Wright. Mariah's sister, Simone, is seen in this photo wearing a purple 'Justice For Mariah' sweatshirt. Purple is the color for Domestic Violence Awareness.

Family members and friends of Mariah Samuels are committed to seeking justice after the man accused of killing her appeared in court Tuesday following a delay the day before.

David Wright, who is charged with first-degree murder in Mariah’s death, made his rescheduled initial appearance in Hennepin County court Tuesday afternoon after family members were told Monday that he had refused to come to court.

What Happened?

Mariah Samuels, 34, was shot 10 times on Sept. 14 outside her family home in north Minneapolis. Her ex-boyfriend, David Wright, 51, has been charged in her killing.

Mariah Samuels, a devoted mother of two young children, was tragically killed outside of her Minneapolis home on September 14. In the months leading up to her death, Mariah had reported ongoing abuse to the Minneapolis Police Department.

Court records show Mariah filed for and was granted an Emergency Order for Protection against Wright three weeks before she was killed. In her petition, Mariah said she ended their relationship on Aug. 21, 2025, and that Wright threatened her later that same evening.

Wright is currently being held at the Hennepin County Jail. On Dec. 11, a grand jury indicted him on first-degree premeditated murder and first-degree murder with a past pattern of domestic abuse in connection with Mariah’s death. Her family had been pushing for harsher charges, saying they feared Wright could one day be released.

On Nov. 24, the Hennepin County Attorney added two counts of first-degree murder against Wright: one count for premeditated murder and another for a past pattern of domestic abuse. A conviction on either charge would lead to a sentence of life without parole under Minnesota law. Wright was originally charged with second-degree murder and illegal possession of a firearm.

According to the criminal complaint, multiple witnesses placed Wright at the scene. During an interview at the Hennepin County Jail, Wright told investigators, “I’m not going to fight this situation,” and said, “This is not going to be a hard-fought case.” He also told officers they could read text messages on his phone if they wanted to understand why he killed Samuels.

Wright’s next court date is scheduled for Jan. 8. His bail is set at $2 million.

A Call for Accountability

Despite her proactive steps to seek help, including multiple pleas to law enforcement, Mariah's concerns went unaddressed. The failure of the MPD to adequately respond to her pleas for help raises critical questions about the department's commitment to addressing domestic violence, especially in communities of color.

Despite MPD receiving significant funding increases in recent years, MPD Chief Brian O'Hara blames inadequate staffing for his departments failure help Mariah. Critics argue that the lack of action reflects a troubling indifference from Chief O’Hara, and Mayor Jacob Frey who is in charge of Minneapolis Police, in prioritizing the safety of vulnerable populations.

In late October, O'Hara vowed to retrain all city officers in dometic violence protocols and procedures by the end of the year. BLCK Press reached out to MPD on Dec. 15 for an update on how many officers have been retrained, but did not hear back at the time this article was published.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to assist Mariah's family during this difficult time.