Officer, Suspect Killed in Shooting During Accident Investigation

A rookie cop on the job less than three months was fatally shot Friday while investigating a traffic accident in Fargo, North Dakota.

Two other officers and a civilian woman were wounded in the shooting before another officer shot and killed the suspect, KFYR reported.

Fargo Police Chief Dave Zilbolski identified the slain officer as 23-year-old Jake Wallin, a military veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We lost a good member of our department and good member of our family,” said Zibolski.

Zibolski said officers were investigating what was a routine accident when Mohamed Barakat, 37, began firing at officers. Wallin and Officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes were hit, and Barakat also fired at firefighters responding to the accident. None were hit, but a firetruck was struck.

A 25-year-old woman was also hit and was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. Dotas and Hawes were said to be in critical but stable condition, KVRR reported.

Officer Zachary Robinson, who was Wallin’s training officer, shot and killed Barakat. Robinson was placed on administrative leave while the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation reviews the action.

Investigators have not released information about the crash or what might have led to the shooting.

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[Featured image: Andrew Dotas, Jake Wallin, and Tyler Hawes/Fargo Police Department]