Attorney General (AG) Asserts Fargo Gunman’s Plot Intended for Significantly Larger-Scale Assault

The Fargo police officers who were ambushed while investigating a minor car accident last week were likely targeted for a larger and more deadly attack, as there were multiple fairs happening in and around the city at the time, according to authorities. Mohamad Barakat, armed with heavy weapons, killed one officer and injured two others and a bystander before being shot and killed by another officer. State Attorney General Drew Wrigley stated on Friday that Barakat had been searching the internet for terms related to mass shootings, explosive ammunition, and crowded events, including the “Downtown Fargo Street Fair” that was taking place nearby on July 13, the day before the attack.

If Officer Zach Robinson had not taken down Barakat, the consequences could have been far worse, authorities say. It appears that Barakat stumbled upon the car accident by chance, and his ensuing ambush was meant to divert attention from his intended target. Wrigley described the tragic series of events as the result of fate aligning with Barakat’s plans. The downtown fair was happening on the day of the attack, less than 3 miles away from the crash scene. However, Barakat had also searched for information on the Red River Valley Fair, which was just a 6-mile drive from the scene.

Barakat parked his car in an adjacent parking lot after driving past the accident, loaded with weapons, ammunition, homemade explosives, and flammable materials. As police and firefighters were occupied with the accident, Barakat observed from his parked car until the officers passed by him. It was then that he began firing his weapon, killing Officer Jake Wallin and injuring Officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes. He also shot and wounded Karlee Koswick, a woman involved in the car accident. Officer Robinson, who was the only officer not yet wounded, engaged Barakat in a two-minute shootout and ultimately killed him. Barakat, a Syrian national who gained US citizenship in 2019, did not have any apparent ties to the Muslim community in Fargo. Wrigley described him as motivated by hate and a desire to kill, with no specific target or group in mind. (Read more mass shootings stories.)