Officer Jake Wallin lost his life in a shooting incident that occurred near 9th Avenue South and 25th Street South in Fargo on July 14, 2023. He was fatally shot during the confrontation.
On Friday afternoon, the Fargo Police Department faced a devastating incident that left one officer dead and two others injured in a shooting. The suspect responsible for the violence was also killed during the confrontation, while a civilian sustained serious injuries.
At the time of his death, he was 23 years old and undergoing field training with the Fargo Police Department.
Who was Jake Wallin?
Fargo Police Officer Jake Wallin was a native of St. Michael, Minnesota. He graduated from Alexandria Technical and Community College and attended the American Military University. Prior to joining the Fargo Police Department, Wallin served in the Minnesota Army National Guard and gained experience in the security sector.
He became an FPD Officer on April 19, 2023, after graduating from Fargo Police Academy IV. During the ceremony, his father, Jeff Wallin, pinned his badge, and Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski administered the oath.
During the incident, two other officers, Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes, were injured. Dotas, a six-year FPD team member, is a Training Officer and a member of various specialized teams. Hawes was Wallin’s classmate and had joined the FPD after completing field training.
Officer Zachary Robinson, a seven-year FPD team member and Wallin’s Training Officer, stopped the threat by shooting and killing the suspect. Robinson was placed on paid administrative leave while the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation conducted an investigation into the use of force.
A 25-year-old female Fargo resident was also injured during the incident.
The suspect, identified as Mohamad Barakat, a 37-year-old Fargo resident, was killed during the confrontation.
The incident prompted condolences and support from law enforcement agencies and the community.
As the investigation continued, the Fargo Police Department released information as it became available.
