FARGO, N.D. — One police officer was killed and two others had been critically injured in a capturing on a busy road in Fargo, North Dakota that additionally left the suspect useless, police mentioned. A witness informed The Associated Press that she noticed a automotive crash and police standing round earlier than gunfire broke out.

A civilian additionally was severely wounded within the capturing that occurred simply earlier than 3 p.m. Friday, police mentioned in a late-night assertion that offered no particulars about how the capturing unfolded or on a doable motive. Many witnesses mentioned they noticed a person open hearth on officers earlier than different officers shot him.

Chenoa Peterson informed The Associated Press that she noticed a automotive crash and police standing round as she was driving together with her 22-year-old daughter. Then a person pulled out a gun and started firing at police: “He proceeds to aim it and you just hear the bullets go off, and I’m like, ‘Oh, my God! He’s shooting!’”

Peterson’s first intuition was to tug over and attempt to assist, however having her daughter there satisfied her to go away. “It’s weird knowing that if you were 10 seconds earlier you could have been in that,” she mentioned.

One girl mentioned she was driving when she noticed the officers fall.

“I saw the traffic stop and as soon as I drove, shots were fired and I saw the cops go down,” Shannon Nichole informed KFGO Radio. “My airbag went off and the bullet went through my driver’s door.”

PHOTOS: 1 Fargo police officer killed, 2 injured in capturing that additionally left suspect useless in North Dakota

The Fargo Police Department mentioned the investigation is ongoing. Authorities withheld the identities of the officers and the suspect pending notification of their households.

Fargo police plan to offer extra particulars at a press convention at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, mentioned Gregg Schildberger, the town’s chief communications officer.

“This is very difficult on all of us,” Schildberger mentioned. “We appreciate all the messages from the community that have been given to us in support of our officers.”

By Saturday, flowers had been positioned on the road boulevard the place a lot of the investigation was targeted a day earlier. An unused roll of gauze bandages additionally was on the bottom, and a rear-ended automobile was in an area in a parking zone.

Police initially mentioned little concerning the capturing, calling it solely a “critical incident” for 9 hours. Early particulars emerged from witnesses, who mentioned they noticed the capturing or heard the sound of gunshots. Shortly after the capturing, officers converged on a residential space about 2 miles away and evacuated residents whereas gathering what they mentioned was associated proof.

Surveillance video offered by Fargo resident Allison Carlson captured the speedy sounds of gunfire.

Bo Thi was working alone at a nail salon close to the capturing scene when she heard what appeared like fireworks or a bike backfiring. She mentioned gunshots didn’t cross her thoughts on the time.

Police and different companies throughout the area posted sympathies for Fargo police on Facebook. The Fargo Police Department’s Facebook web page up to date its profile image to incorporate a picture of an officer’s badge with a black band round it.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum mentioned on Twitter he and his spouse had been praying for the officers and their households.

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