FARGO, N.D. — North Dakota's attorney general said an officer who shot and killed a gunman in Fargo was justified in his actions.
Attorney General Drew Wrigley said Officer Zach Robinson's actions of fatally shooting Mohamad Barakat were "reasonable, necessary and justified," at a Wednesday press conference.
Authorities say Officer Robinson fatally shot Barakat, 37, after the man fired at officers responding to a crash Friday. Officer Jake Wallin was killed, and Officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes were hospitalized with critical injuries.
Wrigley reiterated what other law enforcement agencies have said about the incident, calling Barakat's attack "unprovoked."
At the press conference, officials displayed an image of several weapons and ammunition that were found in Barakat's vehicle.
“When you look at the amount of ammunition this shooter had in his car, he was planning on more mayhem in our community,” Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney said at the conference.
Police were responding to a routine traffic accident on a busy street when Barakat began firing multiple rounds at them, Wrigley said. He said the shooter initially opened fire with a long rifle and then armed himself with a 9 mm handgun.
“He’s casing the place up and stalking his way in and sizing up his opportunity and then parks there and spends minutes watching the officers and waits until they are literally walking, Wrigley said. "That’s when he lifts his firearm out the window and begins firing. It was an absolute ambush. There’s no other way to describe that”
Robinson ordered Barakat 16 times to put the gun down before firing on him, Wrigley said.
After the attack, officers found 1,800 live rounds, three long rifles, four handguns, explosives, canisters with gasoline and a homemade hand grenade in Barakat's car, Wrigley said.
“It’s clear to us that our police officers were ambushed in this attack,” the mayor said.
Fargo’s police chief has said Barakat's motive was unclear. The state Bureau of Criminal Investigation and FBI are investigating.
Another news conference is scheduled for Friday to address the investigation.
Wallin, 23, served in the Minnesota Army National Guard. He was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq from November 2020 to July 2021. Wallin and Hawes were sworn in less than three months ago and were still in training when they responded to the scene Friday.
Robinson was placed on paid administrative leave while state authorities complete an investigation into his use of force, per Fargo police procedure. Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney said he anticipates a report evaluating Robinson’s actions in the coming days.
Barakat “was not well known to the community,” the mayor said.
The governors of Minnesota and North Dakota have directed U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Wallin through sunset Saturday, and encouraged residents and businesses to do the same.
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