Police Officer Killed, Two Injured in Fargo Shooting
FARGO, N.D. — A tragic shooting incident in Fargo, North Dakota has left one police officer dead and two others injured, according to authorities. The suspect was also killed in the incident, and a civilian sustained serious injuries.
The Fargo Police Department confirmed the incident and stated that they were unable to provide any additional information before a scheduled press conference on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Eyewitnesses reported that a man opened fire on police officers at around 3 p.m. on Friday before other officers shot him. Shortly after the incident, officers descended upon a residential area approximately 2 miles away to gather evidence related to the shooting. Residents in the area were temporarily evacuated.
Shannon Nichole, a witness who was driving at the time of the incident, recounted the horrifying moments: “I saw the traffic stop and as soon as I drove, shots were fired and I saw the cops go down,” Nichole said. “My airbag went off and the bullet went through my driver’s door.” She added that a man grabbed her and urged her to leave the area.
Another witness, Chenoa Peterson, described the terrifying scene: “He proceeds to aim it, and you just hear the bullets go off, and I’m like, ‘Oh, my God! He’s shooting!'” Peterson’s first instinct was to help, but her daughter convinced her to flee the danger. “It’s weird knowing that if you were 10 seconds earlier, you could have been in that,” she said.
Surveillance video captured by a Fargo resident, Allison Carlson, captured the rapid sounds of gunfire.
Bo Thi, who was working alone at a nail salon near the shooting scene, initially mistook the gunshots for fireworks or a motorcycle backfiring.
The Fargo community and law enforcement agencies in the region expressed their sympathies for the Fargo Police Department, posting messages of support on social media.
Gregg Schildberger, the chief communications officer for the city, addressed the media at the scene and appealed for patience and understanding as the police department continues to investigate the incident. “This is very difficult on all of us. We are releasing as much information as we can at this point,” Schildberger said. “We appreciate all the messages from the community that have been given to us in support of our officers.”
As the Fargo community comes to terms with this tragic event, law enforcement agencies throughout the region are lighting blue lights to show their support for both the local police and those affected by the shooting.
This is a developing story, and more details are expected to be revealed in the upcoming press conference on Saturday.