FARGO, N.D. — Federal, state and local authorities responded to a shooting Friday in Fargo, North Dakota, that a witness described as a man opening fire on police.
Fargo police termed it a “critical incident,” but did not disclose any details — including whether anyone had been shot.
Surveillance video provided by Fargo resident Allison Carlson captured the rapid sounds of gunfire ringing out over just a few seconds.
Chenoa Peterson said she was driving by the area with her 22-year-old daughter when a man pulled out a gun and began 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!’” she told The Associated Press.
Peterson’s first instinct was to pull over and try to help, but her daughter convinced her to leave. “It’s weird knowing that if you were 10 seconds earlier you could have been in that,” she said.
Bo Thi was working alone on Friday at a nail salon near where police reported the shooting when she heard what sounded like fireworks or a motorcycle backfiring. She said gunshots didn’t cross her mind at the time.
North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley said the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation is working with federal, state and local law enforcement in response to a “shooting incident” but provided no details of what happened.
Police said in social media updates that about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away from the incident, they were asking residents to evacuate from an area of about one block along a city avenue as they continued to investigate and gather evidence. They urged people to stay clear of the large law enforcement presence.
Authorities have said they planned to release more details later on the shooting.
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