Fargo cop killed in shootout was a Minnesota native, new on the job

Jake Wallin didn't want to find himself sitting in an office, wondering at the end of his workdays whether he'd made a difference.

To serve his community, the 23-year-old National Guard member and native of St. Michael, Minn., opted for a career in law enforcement.

On Friday, Wallin was killed in a shootout in Fargo that left two other officers wounded. A fourth officer killed the gunman.

Police have given few details about the shooting beyond saying there was no known motive. The Associated Press said Sunday that authorities released no new information, and the Star Tribune could not reach Wallin's family for comment.

In an online video posted by police Saturday, Wallin talked about his motivation.

"Throughout my entire life I've always wanted to work in some sort of position that had purpose behind my job," the young officer said. "Police officer is always what kind of came to me. I've tried other careers but I came right back into law enforcement."

In a comment that likely referred to his service with the Minnesota National Guard, Wallin added: "I'm from St. Michael-Albertville, Minnesota, and I've been to more countries than I have been states."

At a news conference Saturday, Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski said police and fire officials were responding to a "routine" traffic crash on a busy street Friday afternoon when a gunman opened fire on them. Authorities identified the shooter as Mohamad Barakat of Fargo.

Zibolski described the first few minutes of the shootout as "very chaotic." He said firefighters and an ambulance crew were essential in preventing additional fatalities.

As soon as the firing stopped, he said, "firefighters bounced out, and they were applying first aid immediately to our officers."

Zibolski said their quick work on the wounded men "probably had a very significant impact on their survival."

The city has said little about Barakat or the gun he used. Zibolski said he believed police previously had contact with Barakat "but not anything significant."

The chief said it does not appear that the gunman was involved in the crash that drew officers to the scene. But he indicated authorities were investigating whether the shooting was a planned ambush.

"The first thing we always want to know in a situation like this is, 'Why?' " he said. "Why would somebody do this?"

Fargo police said Wallin became an officer on April 19 and was in field training at the time of death.

The North Wright County Today website reported that Wallin was a 2018 graduate of St. Michael-Albertville High School, where he played linebacker on the football team. He later graduated from Alexandria Technical and Community College and attended the American Military University.

The Minnesota National Guard said in a statement that Wallin began serving in December 2017 as a cannon crewman and was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq from November 2020 to July 2021.

"The citizen soldiers and airmen of the Minnesota National Guard extend our deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Sgt. Jake Wallin," said its adjutant general, Army Maj. Gen. Shawn Manke. "He lived a life of service — not only to his state and nation but his community."

At Saturday's news conference, Zibolski called for a moment of silence to honor Wallin.

"He was a member of our family. He meant a lot to the department," the chief said.

Shortly after the shooting, authorities, including FBI agents, converged on a residential area about 2 miles away and evacuated residents of an apartment building to gather what they said was related evidence.

Officer Tyler Hawes, who was wounded in the shootout, attended the University of Minnesota Morris and was Wallin's classmate in the Fargo Police Academy. They became officers on the same day and were training with six-year veteran Andrew Dotas when they responded to Friday's crash.

On Saturday, Hawes and Dotas were reported in critical but stable condition. Zibolski said they were in "good spirits" but had significant recovery ahead of them.

No updates on their conditions were provided Sunday.

A fourth officer, Zach Robinson, shot and killed Barakat, Zibolski said. A 25-year-old bystander also was injured in the shooting, though authorities haven't said who shot her. A hospital spokesman said Sunday that she was in fair condition.

In the video posted by Fargo police, Wallin displayed an easy smile that suggested the sense of humor his police chief referenced during the new conference Saturday.

The young officer said his desire to serve came from wanting "to have purpose behind my job each and every day. ... I want to be doing something that I can tell myself at the end of the day I made a difference somehow."

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff on the day of Wallin's funeral, which has yet to be announced.

This article contains information from the Associated Press.