WEST FARGO, N.D. (KFGO) – Family and Prairie Heights are naming the man who was shot and killed in the church parking lot yesterday morning as 25-year-old Austin Strom. Strom’s aunt, Rochelle Rech, has created a GoFundMe campaign to help her sister, Robin, with the burden of funeral costs.
Rech says in a post, “He was only 25 years old and devoted his life to God recently and was changing his life for the better” and that Strom attended the Prairie Heights church.
Link to the Fundraiser by Rochelle Rech : Easing Robin’s Burden After Austin’s Murder
UPDATE: One killed , another injured after shooting at Prairie Heights Church
WEST FARGO (KFGO) – One person died from gunshot wounds and another was seriously injured after what police are calling an “altercation.”
West Fargo Police were called to Prairie Heights Church at 7:48 a.m. Saturday for a report of shots fired. Officers learned that three people were involved in an altercation in front of the main entrance to the church.
One of those involved had a gunshot wound. That person was taken to the hospital where they were pronounced dead.
Another person was taken to the hospital with severe but not life-threatening injuries they suffered during the altercation.
Police say this was an isolated incident and here is no threat to the public.
West Fargo Police Chief Pete Nielsen said early Saturday that two people were detained for questioning after the shooting. He said one was believed to be an employee of the church.
Nielsen says charges are possible, but it’s still early in the investigation. “I don’t know if it’s self defense,” Nielsen said. “I don’t know if charges will be pending… We’ll be referring a lot of our information to the State’s Attorney’s Office.”
Prairie Heights Executive Director Doug Peters says the church was closed and vacant when the shooting happened.
Prairie Heights wrote on social media, “We are praying for all involved in an incident that happened in our church parking lot earlier today, Aug. 17, and ask that you pray with us. The West Fargo Police Department is currently handling the situation and Prairie Heights is in communication with and supporting their work. The incident happened while Prairie Heights was closed and the facilities were vacant. We ask that you join us in prayer for our city and for all parties involved as we learn more.”
This is a developing story. This story was updated at 10:40 a.m. and 5:21 p.m.
Comments