Many questions remain about what led a gunman in Fargo, North Dakota, to open fire on police as they were responding to a traffic crash
Many questions remained Sunday about what led a gunman in Fargo, North Dakota, to open fire on police officers as they were responding to a traffic crash. One officer was killed and two others were critically wounded before the gunman was killed by a fourth officer.
The shooting happened Friday afternoon along a busy street, and roughly nine hours passed before authorities told the public that officers were shot. On Saturday, Fargo’s police chief released the names of the officers and the name of the gunman, but said the motive was unclear and that the 37-year-old man opened fire for “no known reason at all.”
Chief Dave Zibolski also said little about how the situation unfolded, noting the investigation was in the hands of state and federal investigators.
“We are not in the position to provide many details in terms of the actual incident itself,” Zibolski said. Authorities released no new information Sunday.
Here’s what we know, and what we don’t, about the shooting:
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE SCENE?
Police and fire officials were responding to a “routine“ traffic accident on a busy street Friday afternoon, when a gunman began firing multiple rounds at them — killing one and wounding two, Zibolski said. A fourth officer shot and killed the man, who authorities identified as Mohamad Barakat of Fargo.
Zibolski described the first few minutes as “very chaotic,“ but said that firefighters on scene and a nearby ambulance were essential in preventing additional fatalities. As soon as the firing stopped, “firefighters bounced out and they were applying first aid immediately to our officers,” Zibolski said, which „probably had a very significant impact on their survival.
Authorities released few details about what happened in the moments before Barakat began firing and his motive was not clear.
“The first thing we always want to know in a situation like this is, ‘Why?’” Zibolski said. “Why would somebody do this?“
WHAT DID WITNESSES SEE?
Among the drivers who witnessed what happened was Chenoa Peterson.
