close
close

Semainede4jours

Real-time news, timeless knowledge

West Fargo Police release footage of deadly shooting outside church in August
bigrus

West Fargo Police release footage of deadly shooting outside church in August

WEST FARGO, ND (Valley News Live) – West Fargo Police have released video footage showing the moments before and after an attack. A fatal shooting occurred in a church parking lot.

25-year-old Austin Strom was killed in the shooting in August. Police said he attacked another church member, 66-year-old Kent Hodges, when a third man approached.

Don Barron, a West Fargo teacher, pulled the trigger in what attorneys say was self-defense.

Barron’s dashcam video shows him running toward Prairie Heights to intervene in the attack. He gets out of the car and orders Strom to stop.

Barron can be seen backing away as Strom slowly walks towards him with his hands up. Barron fires a single shot, unloads the gun, puts it on the hood of his car, and calls 911.

The police are already on the way.

“I need my home,” Strom said. “If I am not allowed into this house, the second death will befall you.”

Hodges recorded the interaction on his phone. He has dementia and investigators believe he was at church because he thought it was Sunday.

In this recording, Strom said several times that he needed his home, referring to the church. Strom then picks up a large rock, presumably to get inside. Hodges stops him and the fight begins.

Barron was just one of several people who watched the tragedy unfold.

State attorneys say no charges will be filed in the case. They say Barron acted in self-defense and defense of others. Requests for an interview with Barron went unanswered.

Valley News Live also reached out to the Strom family and did not hear back. But they have been very vocal on social media, saying in part: “The truth will come out. We just need to move past the hurt, the pain, and the anger.