FARGO, N.D. – A North Dakota police officer died Thursday of a gunshot wound suffered while responding to a domestic disturbance hours earlier, becoming just the second Fargo officer to die in the line of duty and the first in more than a century.
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He is not sure yet who fired the shot that killed the suspect.
“Right now my job as the chief is to take care of our officer’s family and to take care of my officers”, Todd said Thursday morning.
The man suspected of shooting Officer Jason Moszer was found dead shortly before dawn Thursday in the home where he barricaded himself for about 11 hours, Police Chief David Todd said.
Anderson says the suspect fired multiple rounds from inside the home and struck Moszer. “And how do you think that sits with us?”
The ordeal began about 7 p.m. Wednesday and concluded about 6 a.m. Thursday.
Nearby residents were told to stay in their homes and go into their basements for shelter, the news station said.
Officer Jason Moszer, 33, was shot when he responded to a domestic situation that involved an armed suspect in a North Fargo home Wednesday night.
Laney matter of factly fielded reporters’ questions but fought his emotions near the end.
“A chunk of our souls was taken today”.
The suspect is believed to have access to several weapons and police have evacuated adjacent homes as a precaution, Anderson added.
Officials say 33-year-old Officer Jason Moszer died at 12:45 Thursday afternoon from a single gunshot wound. It was not immediately clear whether the officer had been formally pronounced dead.
Todd said he was confident that Schumacher meant to shoot at officers.
A resident in the area reported seeing an officer lying on the ground by a squad vehicle, and notified dispatch.
Mahoney said the city has been in contact with Moszer’s family to offer support. “This is disgusting for them”, Todd said. “Law enforcement is a tight community”.
A tragedy affecting our men and women in uniform impacts our entire community.
Police said they tried to communicate with Schumacher through negotiators, but that he didn’t respond and the SWAT team eventually entered the house and found the body. We ask the citizens of Fargo to send thoughts and prayers to Officer Moszer and his family during this hard time, acknowledging appreciation for his years of dedicated public service.
“Tonight we are losing a brother”, the chief began, his voice cracking, “one of our fellow officers”. A SWAT team in an armoured vehicle retrieved Moszer and took him to a hospital.
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Todd said the suspect is believed to have threatened his wife in the home and possibly shot at her. The couple’s son made the initial call to police, Todd said. The North Dakota Supreme Court ordered a new trial the following year and Schumacher was convicted of negligent homicide and sentenced to five years. His criminal history in the state includes convictions about three years ago for disorderly conduct and assault.
