The gunman who ambushed three Fargo, North Dakota, police officers in an unprovoked attack Friday had a stockpile that included 1,800 rounds of ammunition and a homemade hand grenade, the state’s attorney general said Wednesday.
Mohamad Barakat, 37, “absolutely ambushed” officers, firing a .223 caliber rifle from inside his vehicle Friday as police responded to a car crash, Attorney General Drew Wrigley said.
One officer, 23-year-old Jake Wallin, was killed and two others were shot and wounded. Barakat was shot and killed by police officer Zach Robinson, authorities said.
Barakat also shot a woman who was standing in the street after the unrelated car accident. She was hit twice as she fled from the gunfire, Wrigley said.
“After the murderous and unprovoked attack on Mohamad Barakat, Officer Zach Robinson’s use of deadly force was reasonable, necessary, justified and in every way legal,” he said.
Robinson, who was on the road about 75 feet away, radioed for help and returned fire, and one of the bullets he fired disabled Barakat’s .223 caliber rifle, Wrigley said.
Barakat, who was wounded and was now out of his vehicle, reached for a 9mm handgun and was “waving” it around before Robinson finally shot and killed him, Wrigley said.
The shooting is under investigation and authorities have said the motive is unknown.
Wrigley said the officers, who were there for a traffic accident, were shot without warning or reason.
“He absolutely ambushed them from inside that vehicle. They had no way of knowing,” she said.
Inside the vehicle, investigators found 1,800 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition, explosives, gas canisters and a homemade grenade with a working fuse on top, Wrigley said.
There were three long guns in all, one of which had a telescopic sight, as well as four pistols and a vest with magazines, he said.
The rifle used in the attack had two magazines that were attached side by side, holding a total of 60 rounds, Wrigley said. Barakat fired 40 or 41 rounds before the rifle was struck and disabled, he said.
Mayor Tim Mahoney said if police hadn’t killed Barakat, “we would have had a lot more casualties.”
Police Chief David Zibolski said it was remarkable that Robinson, armed with a pistol, was able to shoot Barakat and disable his rifle from 75 feet away while being fired upon.
The incident and shooting lasted about two minutes, he said.
Wrigley said Robinson gave Barakat 16 instructions to raise his hands or lower his gun before shooting Barakat.
Officials are expected to release more information on Friday.
The shooting was captured on police body cameras, which Wrigley said was reviewed along with other evidence.
He said that Barakat’s shots were so rapid that they sounded like fully automatic fire and that Robinson believed it to be fully automatic.
“It will fool anyone who will listen to it,” Wrigley said.
Authorities believe Barakat legally acquired all of the weapons and was not prohibited from owning firearms, but the investigation is continuing, Wrigley said.
In addition to the weapons in the car, additional firearms were found in a search of his residence, he said. Barakat brought the weapons to his car in a rolling suitcase, he said.
Governor Doug Burgum tidy Tuesday have flags flown at half mast through Saturday in honor of Wallin, the slain officer.
The two officers who were injured remained hospitalized in critical but stable condition Wednesday and are improving, said Zibolski, the police chief.
