Fargo Officer Zach Robinson speaks about July 14 shooting

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – Nearly five months ago, the city of Fargo was rocked by the tragic death of Officer Jake Wallin, who was gunned down in a senseless act of violence. Officer Zach Robinson experienced the shooting first hand.

“I was walking back to just move the squad car quick when the shooting began,” said Officer Robinson. “Yelled at Officer Dotas I was going to move the car. It was hard to hear out there, there was traffic going by. I remember them looking over at me and then all of a sudden there was shooting that started.”

On that day, Fargo Officer Jake Wallin died. Two other officers were shot and so was a bystander. Officer Robinson called out on the radio. But thanks to Officer Robinson, he stopped what could have been a massacre. As he traded bullets with Mohammed Barakat, and eventually took him down.

“He sat up with a pistol in his hand. I again engaged him, ran out of ammo. I reloaded quick, got back into the fight. Shot again until he dropped.” said Robinson.

Officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes were both down on the ground. A flurry of officers and paramedics descended upon the scene, rushing in to save their lives. It was a race against time.

“I did not think Andrew was going to live. Like at all. I watched the color from his skin just go away and I knew he was losing a ton of blood. I’ve seen people that have been shot before where they are still alive and then they get taken away and die. He looked just like that.” said Officer Robinson.

While we may never know the full extent of why Barakat decided to attack that day, or what the carnage would have been if he had made his way to the downtown street fair. But one thing is certain, many people in the metro area consider Officer Robinson a hero. And now Officer Robinson is back on the streets, patrolling the Fargo area. While July 14 will live with him forever, he knew that he needed to get back out there.

“Ashley knew that I was ready to go back. She wasn’t ready for me to go back but like I told her. I need to rip off the band aid. She wanted me to stay on desk duty until after the baby is born. I’m like, I’m not going six months without working.” said Robinson.

Both Dotas and Hawes were released from the hospital earlier this year.