By Canadian Press

Gunman who ambushed North Dakota police had a ‘binary trigger’ that let him fire rapidly, AG says

Jul 21, 2023 | 10:11 AM

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A gunman who ambushed police officers in Fargo, North Dakota, last week had a “binary trigger” that allowed him to fire rapidly, authorities said Friday.

The .223-caliber rifle that Mohamad Barakat used in his July 14 attack sounded like an automatic weapon because of how quickly it fired, state Attorney General Drew Wrigley said at a news conference.

Barakat killed one officer and wounded two others and a civilian before the fourth officer at the scene shot and killed him. Wrigley said the wounded officers fell in quick succession.

Police were investigating a routine collision on a busy Fargo street when the heavily armed Barakat opened fire on them before they could react.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

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FARGO, N.D. (AP) — What started as a routine collision on a busy Fargo street ended in bloody mayhem and tragedy, after a local man armed with 1,800 rounds of ammunition, guns and a grenade opened fire, killing one of the police officers who responded to the crash and wounding two others, as well as a woman who was involved in it.

Last week’s attack by 37-year-old Mohamad Barakat has left investigators wondering what further carnage he might have been planning.

Zach Robinson, the only officer in the melee who hadn’t been shot, shot and killed Barakat as bystanders crouched nearby. Authorities are expected to release further details of the attack at a news conference later Friday.

Barakat, who briefly trained as an emergency responder at a nearby community college, had no criminal record or apparent social media presence.

On the day of the attack, July 14, Barakat brought a suitcase stuffed with weapons and ammunition from his apartment to his car and set off on a drive, state Attorney General Drew Wrigley told reporters Wednesday in the most detailed update yet.

About 2 miles (3 kilometers) from his home, Barakat came across the traffic collision and pulled over. With police and firefighters busy helping, Barakat watched for minutes until the officers walked away, and when they were about 15 to 20 feet (5 to 6 meters) from him, he lifted a .223-caliber rifle out of his car window and began firing in what Wrigley called “an absolute ambush” and “a murderous barrage of fire.”

The officers “had no time” to reach for their holstered guns because Barakat’s fusillade was so rapid, Wrigley said.

Barakat killed Officer Jake Wallin, 23, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Minnesota Army National Guard, and wounded Officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes. Wallin and Hawes were so new that they were still undergoing field training.

Barakat also hit Karlee Koswick, who was involved in the traffic collision, with two rounds as she ran away.

Robinson, who was in the street about 75 feet (23 meters) away from Barakat, “was the last man standing between what was coming next and what you can see this assailant was armed for,” Wrigley said. He moved from behind a vehicle involved in the crash and fired at Barakat. One of his shots disabled Barakat’s rifle, leaving 20 rounds unused after the killer fired 40.

“We have three officers down; send everybody,” Robinson said over the radio, after moving closer and noticing the fallen officers.

A wounded Barakat lay on the ground protected by his car, waving a 9 mm handgun. Robinson moved closer, calling out 16 times for Barakat to surrender.

Robinson came around the vehicle and gave one last command to Barakat to put down the gun before shooting him, said Wrigley, who called Robinson’s use of deadly force “justified.”

Lasting about two minutes, the gunfight was still longer than most, said David Zibolski, the police chief of North Dakota’s largest city. Wrigley noted Robinson fired approximately 30 rounds and had to stop to reload.

Zibolski said it might have been worse had there not been emergency crews already there, including an ambulance. As soon as the firing stopped, “firefighters bounced out and they were applying first aid immediately to our officers,” Zibolski said.

Inside Barakat’s vehicle, investigators found a homemade hand grenade as well as a vest with loaded magazines, more firearms and gasoline canisters, authorities said. There were more weapons back at his apartment.

“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.

Wrigley said he believes the violence could have been the beginning of a mass shooting as the Downtown Fargo Street Fair and the Red River Valley Fair were underway.

The police chief said Barakat “was obviously dead-set on some pretty horrific acts, targets unknown at this time.” Authorities have said a motive is unknown.

As the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the FBI work on the case, the wounded are recovering, their conditions good or stable. Meanwhile, a funeral service is planned for Saturday for Wallin, whose body was cremated in his police uniform.

Jack Dura, The Associated Press