Officials suggest Fargo shooter planned larger attack
At a press conference in Fargo, N.D., on July 17, North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley shows the weapons and explosive device found in the car of suspect Mohamad Barakat.
Dan Gunderson | MPR News
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Officials have released some details about the shooting of three Fargo, N.D. police officers last week, and promised more details about the investigation Friday.
They suggested the suspect, who was driving a car filled with weapons, was planning a larger attack somewhere in Fargo. Dan Gunderson reports.
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Audio transcript
REPORTER: With the other big stories we're following, officials have released some details about the shooting of three Fargo Police officers last week and promised more details about the investigation tomorrow. They suggest the suspect who was driving a car filled with weapons was planning a larger attack somewhere in Fargo. Dan Gunderson has details.
DAN GUNDERSON: North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley released his investigation into the actions of the officer who shot and killed suspect Mohamed Barakat. Wrigley said Barakat initiated an attack Friday afternoon, while four officers were investigating a traffic accident on a busy Fargo street.
DREW WRIGLEY: He was not involved in the car accident, nor could he have known that it had happened. It was just-- it was a pure fate moment that he happened upon this scene and all of these officers are out there.
DAN GUNDERSON: Wrigley said Barakat pulled into a parking lot just off the street and waited until three officers walked to the sidewalk with a woman who was involved in the traffic accident. Then he opened fire with a long gun from inside his car.
DREW WRIGLEY: It was an absolute ambush. There's no other way to describe that. The officers had no time, none, whatsoever, to possibly even get a hand on a weapon, let alone unholster a weapon.
DAN GUNDERSON: Officer Jake Wallin was killed. Officers Tyler Hawes and Andrew Dotas were critically injured. 25-year-old Karlee Koswick, who was involved in the accident, was struck by two rounds and seriously injured. The fourth officer on the scene was Zachary Robinson. He was about 75 feet away behind a car in the straight, officials said. Robinson immediately called for help and began to return fire. Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski said the officer showed remarkable skill.
DAVID ZIBOLSKI: 75-plus feet with a pistol is a pretty good range to be able to hit a target, especially when at the same time you're being fired at by a high-powered rifle. That's just incredible.
DAN GUNDERSON: Officials said a bullet fired by Robinson struck and disabled the rifle held by Barakat, who was also wounded. Barakat then grabbed a handgun. Officer Robinson moved closer and, Wrigley said, showed great restraint under the circumstances, giving the suspect an opportunity to surrender.
DREW WRIGLEY: Hands up. Hands up. Put down the gun. I watched the tape over and over, 16 directves.
DAN GUNDERSON: Wrigley said Robinson then shot and killed Barakat, firing about 30 rounds from his service weapon during the two-minute gunfight. Wrigley said Officer Robinson's quick response likely helped save the lives of the wounded officers, who received medical attention from firefighters on the scene as soon as the gunfire stopped. Mayor Tim Mahoney said the officer also likely saved other lives.
TIM MAHONEY: Had that not neutralized the shooter, we would have had many more casualties. When you look at the amount of ammunition the shooter had in his car. He was planning on more mayhem in our community.
DAN GUNDERSON: Officials said Barakat had 1,800 live rounds and several guns in his vehicle along with explosives. Investigators found more weapons when they searched his Fargo apartment. Wrigley said evidence to be released on Friday will show Barakat was planning an attack somewhere in Fargo. He offered no details at the Wednesday press conference. Police Chief David Zibolski said, while the Department is mourning the loss of officer Jake Wallin and the wounding of two other officers, he wanted to also draw attention to the response.
DAVID ZIBOLSKI: The absolute heroic efforts of officer Zachary Robinson, he was essentially the last person standing between this individual who was obviously dead set on some pretty horrific acts. Targets unknown at this time.
DAN GUNDERSON: Officials with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the FBI are expected to release more details about the incident and what they've learned about suspect Mohamad Barakat at a Friday briefing. The two wounded officers remain in critical but stable condition. The funeral for Officer Jake Wallin is scheduled for Saturday morning in Pequot Lakes. Zibolski said Wallin was cremated in his Fargo police uniform. And officers are guarding the remains until the funeral. Dan Gunderson, MPR News, Fargo.
DAN GUNDERSON: North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley released his investigation into the actions of the officer who shot and killed suspect Mohamed Barakat. Wrigley said Barakat initiated an attack Friday afternoon, while four officers were investigating a traffic accident on a busy Fargo street.
DREW WRIGLEY: He was not involved in the car accident, nor could he have known that it had happened. It was just-- it was a pure fate moment that he happened upon this scene and all of these officers are out there.
DAN GUNDERSON: Wrigley said Barakat pulled into a parking lot just off the street and waited until three officers walked to the sidewalk with a woman who was involved in the traffic accident. Then he opened fire with a long gun from inside his car.
DREW WRIGLEY: It was an absolute ambush. There's no other way to describe that. The officers had no time, none, whatsoever, to possibly even get a hand on a weapon, let alone unholster a weapon.
DAN GUNDERSON: Officer Jake Wallin was killed. Officers Tyler Hawes and Andrew Dotas were critically injured. 25-year-old Karlee Koswick, who was involved in the accident, was struck by two rounds and seriously injured. The fourth officer on the scene was Zachary Robinson. He was about 75 feet away behind a car in the straight, officials said. Robinson immediately called for help and began to return fire. Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski said the officer showed remarkable skill.
DAVID ZIBOLSKI: 75-plus feet with a pistol is a pretty good range to be able to hit a target, especially when at the same time you're being fired at by a high-powered rifle. That's just incredible.
DAN GUNDERSON: Officials said a bullet fired by Robinson struck and disabled the rifle held by Barakat, who was also wounded. Barakat then grabbed a handgun. Officer Robinson moved closer and, Wrigley said, showed great restraint under the circumstances, giving the suspect an opportunity to surrender.
DREW WRIGLEY: Hands up. Hands up. Put down the gun. I watched the tape over and over, 16 directves.
DAN GUNDERSON: Wrigley said Robinson then shot and killed Barakat, firing about 30 rounds from his service weapon during the two-minute gunfight. Wrigley said Officer Robinson's quick response likely helped save the lives of the wounded officers, who received medical attention from firefighters on the scene as soon as the gunfire stopped. Mayor Tim Mahoney said the officer also likely saved other lives.
TIM MAHONEY: Had that not neutralized the shooter, we would have had many more casualties. When you look at the amount of ammunition the shooter had in his car. He was planning on more mayhem in our community.
DAN GUNDERSON: Officials said Barakat had 1,800 live rounds and several guns in his vehicle along with explosives. Investigators found more weapons when they searched his Fargo apartment. Wrigley said evidence to be released on Friday will show Barakat was planning an attack somewhere in Fargo. He offered no details at the Wednesday press conference. Police Chief David Zibolski said, while the Department is mourning the loss of officer Jake Wallin and the wounding of two other officers, he wanted to also draw attention to the response.
DAVID ZIBOLSKI: The absolute heroic efforts of officer Zachary Robinson, he was essentially the last person standing between this individual who was obviously dead set on some pretty horrific acts. Targets unknown at this time.
DAN GUNDERSON: Officials with the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the FBI are expected to release more details about the incident and what they've learned about suspect Mohamad Barakat at a Friday briefing. The two wounded officers remain in critical but stable condition. The funeral for Officer Jake Wallin is scheduled for Saturday morning in Pequot Lakes. Zibolski said Wallin was cremated in his Fargo police uniform. And officers are guarding the remains until the funeral. Dan Gunderson, MPR News, Fargo.
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