Fargo Police Officer Killed in Ambush Laid to Rest in Minnesota

Jake Wallin, a 23-year-old Fargo police officer, was remembered fondly at a funeral service held in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, this Saturday. Wallin was tragically ambushed and killed while responding to a routine traffic accident by a heavily armed assailant. He was praised as a dedicated officer and a remarkable young individual whose life was cut tragically short.

Wallin was fatally shot on July 14 by a man who was equipped with 1,800 rounds of ammunition, several guns, and explosives. The attacker also wounded two other officers and a civilian before a fourth officer returned fire, killing the assailant, identified as Mohamad Barakat. According to the police, the fourth officer’s action potentially prevented a larger, more deadly attack on the city.

The young officer, who was still in field training and had just joined the Fargo Police Department in April, was cremated in his uniform. His cremains were escorted by the Fargo Police Department to his funeral service in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, on Saturday. The service was attended by his loved ones, dignitaries, and law enforcement officers from across the country.

The police procession, consisting of ten squad cars and three buses carrying department employees, departed from Fargo early on Saturday. A memorial was held at the site of the shooting, where dozens of people paid tribute to Wallin, as reported by KFGO.

Having served in the Minnesota Army National Guard, Wallin was a military veteran who had been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq from November 2020 to July 2021, according to a spokesperson from the Minnesota National Guard. He is set to receive his final military honors at a private interment.

Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski praised Wallin’s dedication and commitment during a press briefing after the tragic incident. Zibolski recalled Wallin’s outstanding performance during his officer interview and how he stood out in the police academy. Wallin was described as a motivated individual who sought a career with real purpose. Body-camera footage indicated that Wallin’s final act was bravely facing the attacker, pulling out his gun in an attempt to save others.

Jodi Wallin, the officer’s aunt, fondly remembered her nephew, describing his transformation from a shy boy into an ambitious and courageous young man. She shared that Wallin had recently bought a house for himself and his fiancée, taking great pride in becoming a new homeowner.

Wallin’s dedication as a soldier and positive spirit were also remembered by Chaplain Jordan Helming, who served with Wallin in Iraq. He described Wallin as someone who understood the big picture in life and that reaching life’s peak required long, disciplined, and steady efforts.

In a poignant moment, a video of Wallin expressing his desire to become a police officer and make a difference was shown last week. His parents received two Fargo police awards and the Minnesota Distinguished Service Medal in honor of their son at the service.

Many law enforcement agencies from different states attended Wallin’s funeral, including a caravan from Sioux Falls police and South Dakota Highway Patrol. Flags in Minnesota and North Dakota were ordered to be flown at half-staff through Saturday in honor of Wallin. Dignitaries at the funeral included Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

Further details of the attack were provided by North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley on Friday. The attacker, Mohamad Barakat, was a Syrian national who had arrived in the U.S. on an asylum request in 2012 and became a U.S. citizen in 2019. Over the past five years, he had been searching the internet for disturbing terms including “mass shooting events” and “kill fast.”

Barakat had planned a much bigger attack on an unknown target, according to Wrigley. Officer Zach Robinson, who killed Barakat, was described as the one who prevented the potentially catastrophic events from unfolding. Wrigley praised Robinson as “the last man standing in that blue line at that moment.”

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More about Fargo Police Officer Jake Wallin Funeral

• Jake Wallin’s service in the Fargo Police Department
• The tragic ambush incident
• Minnesota Army National Guard
• Coverage of Wallin’s funeral service
• Details about the assailant, Mohamad Barakat