Fargo Police Department Identifies Officers And Suspect Involved In Friday Shooting

FARGO, ND (KDLM) – Fargo Police Department Chief David Zibolski spoke to the media and community at a press conference on Saturday afternoon regarding the officer-involved shooting incident that happened at the scene of an accident on Friday.

On Friday, July 14th, emergency responders were called to an accident scene at 25th Street South near 9th Avenue around 3 pm. Witnesses say, as law enforcement officers were analyzing the scene, a bystander pulled a rifle from the trunk of the vehicle and began firing at the officers.

During the attack, Officer Jake Wallin, age 23, was shot and killed. Officer Andrew Dotas and Officer Tyler Hawes were critically injured in the attack. Officer Zach Robinson returned fire and killed the suspect.

“Officer Wallin was sworn into our department less than three months ago…April 24th, 2023,” Zibolski said. “He was an individual who was also a military veteran, served in the Minnesota National Guard, and went on numerous deployments including Afghanistan. He served his country, came back here, and wanted nothing more than to serve in a position with purpose.”

Wallin, a native of St. Michael-Albertville, was also a graduate of the law enforcement program at Alexandria Tech.

Officers Dotas and Hawes sustained gunshot wounds and are currently in critical stable condition with serious injuries at a local healthcare facility. Dotas is a six-year FPD team member. Hawes was Wallin’s classmate in the FPD Academy.

Officer Zach Robinson is a seven-year FPD team member. He eliminated the threat by shooting and killing 37-year-old Mohamad Barakat. Barakat, a Fargo resident, was transported from the scene to a local healthcare facility where he later died. Zobolski said that Barakat was not involved in the traffic accident that was being investigated.

Robinson was serving as Wallin’s Training Officer at the time of the incident and has been placed on standard paid administrative leave while the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NDBCI) conducts an investigation into the use of force.

A 25-year-old female Fargo resident was also shot during the critical incident. She was transported from the scene to a local healthcare facility with serious injuries.

“Our officers were out there investigating what we would say was a routine traffic accident,” said Zibolski. “As they were doing that, for whatever reason this individual began firing at them, striking three of them. He also fired shots at the firefighters who were also on scene tending to the crash victims. Firefighters performed potentially life-saving care on our officers. Had they not been there, this could have been an entirely different situation.”

Law enforcement officers also evacuated an area of the 2800 block of 23rd Avenue South on Friday evening where officials begin to gather evidence related to the shooting. FBI and US Marshalls were dispatched to the scene.

“There is no known reason for this. I think down the road we will find out the whys,” said Zibolski. “I am confident that our friends at the NDBCI and FBI, as they work through this particular investigation, will put the pieces of the puzzle together as to why this individual chose to do this.”

“As you can imagine, this has been a very traumatic situation, not only for the officers on scene, but also for the officers that responded,” said Zibolski. “The first several minutes were very chaotic. Our officers performed admirably and I’m very proud of them for their actions, their quick thinking, and their calmness under fire. They did a tremendous job not only trying to protect each other but also their community.”

The incident remains under investigation. No further information is available at this time.

You can watch Chief Zibolski’s full press conference here: