One police officer was killed and two others were critically injured after a suspect opened fire for “no reason at all” on a busy street in Fargo, North Dakota on Friday.
The deceased suspect was identified on Saturday as 37-year-old Mohamad Barakat.
Police are baffled and can’t figure out the motive for the fatal shooting.
According to reports, Mohamad Barakat began shooting on a busy street in a broad daylight ambush on Friday afternoon.
Fargo police immediately began to exchange gunfire with Mohamad Barakat.
Jake Wallin, a 23-year-old rookie officer was fatally shot.
Officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes were critically injured in the gunfire.
Officer Zach Robinson fatally shot Mohamad Barakat.
A 25-year-old woman was also shot and seriously injured.
“This was a heinous and unthinkable act of aggression against our officers and against our community,” Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski said during a news conference on Saturday. “That type of behavior obviously cannot stand.”
North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley was tight-lipped about the investigation into the shooting and didn’t provide any details.
CBS News reported:
One police officer was killed and two others were critically injured after a suspect began shooting on a busy street in Fargo, North Dakota, on Friday afternoon, police said.
Fargo police officers returning fire killed the suspect during the shooting that occurred before 3 p.m. Friday.
The suspect was identified as 37-year-old Mohamad Barakat of Fargo. He died after being taken to a hospital, police said.
In a news conference Saturday, Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski said the suspect opened fire for “no known reason at all.”
North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley said the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation was working with federal, state and local law enforcement in response to a “shooting incident” but provided no details.
“We sincerely are asking for your patience and our community’s patience and understanding as the Fargo Police Department works through this incident,” Schildberger said Friday evening.
“This is very difficult on all of us,” Schildberger said. “We appreciate all the messages from the community that have been given to us in support of our officers.”
Multiple witnesses said a man opened fire on the police officers before other officers shot him. Shortly afterward, officers converged on a residential area about 2 miles away and evacuated residents while gathering what they said was evidence related to the shooting.
Fargo Police on Saturday updated the public on the fatal police shooting: