A Fargo, N.D., police officer was shot and killed Friday, and two other officers were seriously injured when a suspect opened fire on several first responders at the scene of a traffic crash.
Officer Jake Wallin, 23, was fatally shot in the incident when “for no known reason at all, a violent gunman attacked our officers,” Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski said.
Also critically injured in the attack were Officer Andrew Dotas and Officer Tyler Hawes. Both are still hospitalized in critical but stable condition. A civilian was also injured in the incident, and the suspect was shot and killed by another officer on site.
The Fargo Police Department first posted on social media before 4 p.m. Friday that they were responding to a critical incident and asked the public to stay clear of the area of 25th Street South and 13th Avenue South.
Chief Zibolski recapped the incident and the facts known so far in a Saturday afternoon press conference in which he described that first responders had been on site of a routine traffic crash when a suspect he identified as 37-year-old Mohamed Barakat opened fire on firefighters and police investigating the crash and attending to victims at the scene.
Fargo Police Department Press Conference – 07.15.2023 https://t.co/ROhJZzN945
— Fargo Police (@FargoPolice) July 15, 2023
None of the firefighters were struck by gunfire, but one of their trucks was struck, Zibolski said.
The chief was brief on the incident details, citing the ongoing investigation now in the hands of the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the FBI. At the time of the press conference, Zibolski indicated that Barakat’s motive for the shootings wasn’t known and that Barakat was apparently not involved in the crash at the location. Chief Zibolski expressed his belief that investigators would eventually be able to drill down on Barakat’s motive.
Officer Zach Robinson, who was on site at the crash, fired the fatal shot that killed the suspect, “ending the threat and preventing future harm to others,” Chief Zibolski said.
Wallin was just sworn in at the Fargo Police Department less than three months ago on April 24 of this year.
A brief video honoring Officer Wallin was played during the press conference in which Wallin was depicted in training and spoke of choosing to be a police officer for a sense of “purpose” and wanting to make a difference.
We mourn the loss and honor the memory of fallen #Fargo Police Officer Jake Wallin (End of Watch – 07.14.2023). pic.twitter.com/cNnWr9raMR
— Fargo Police (@FargoPolice) July 15, 2023
Wallin was a St. Michael-Albertville native. Rep. Walter Hudson, who represents the area in the Minnesota House, released a statement on Wallin’s death.
“I offer my most sincere condolences to the family, friends and fellow law enforcement officers of Officer Jake Wallin,” Hudson said. “It is beyond concerning to see yet another peace officer lost. We cannot afford to ignore this issue any longer and must do better to improve the working environment for peace officers and foster respect for the profession. God bless Officer Wallin and please keep those he leaves behind in your hearts and prayers.”
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
