MOORHEAD, MINN – The Moorhead Police Department is releasing more information about what they initially called a “critical incident” Monday night that resulted in two deaths.
According to Chief Christopher Helmick, police were called to a domestic assault in an apartment complex in the 2400 block of 3rd Avenue North just before 9 p.m. Monday night. The victim reported to police that they were assaulted by two individuals known to her. Moorhead Police then met with the victim and enough information was provided to establish probable cause for an arrest, Helmick said.
The victim also told officers that two small children were in the apartment.
Police attempted to make contact with the individual inside of the apartment and encountered gunfire.
“Officers took immediate measures to evacuate the surrounding apartments,” Helmick said. Mutual aid from neighboring agencies and the Red River Valley SWAT team was requested.
“Once SWAT was on scene and assumed operational command inside the apartment complex, there was an exchange of gunfire which resulted in two adult males being struck by gunfire inside the original apartment unit,” Helmick said.
SWAT medics and Sanford Ambulance crews rendered aid to the subjects that were injured while also safely removing the children from the apartment. Life-saving measures were unsuccessful, with one individual being pronounced dead at the scene. The other individual was transported to a local hospital by ambulance, where they died. The identities and manner of death will be released at a later time, Helmick said. No one else was injured.
He was unable to comment whether or not the suspect of the domestic violence incident was among those who were shot.
Helmick said the victim and children were taken by officers to safety.
Some residents in the apartment building were evacuated and later let back in, but he said some people on the third floor ‘might have been inconvenienced for a longer period of time.’ He said it’s unclear of the status of those residents and whether or not they have been allowed back into their apartments. Flag Family News has reached out to the BCA for clarification as to whether or not all residents have been allowed back in.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) was called to take over the investigation and processing of the crime scene. Helmick said body-worn cameras captured portions of the incident and those have been turned over to the BCA. He said all future updates will be provided by the BCA.
Mutual aid from North Dakota, Minnesota
Helmick said mutual aid was provided to the Moorhead Police Department by the Fargo Police Department, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Dilworth Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Red River Valley SWAT and Sanford Ambulance.
Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski also attended Tuesday’s press conference.
He said three Fargo Police officers were involved in firing their weapons during the incident. The three members are part of the Red River Valley SWAT team.
The officers have been placed on administrative leave per departmental policy, Zibolski said.
“We will continue to await the prosecutor decision on this side of the river and then go from there on our end,” he said.
