The apparent hoax call by a person demanding money and threatening a shooting at the Wal-Mart on 32nd Avenue, Grand Forks, prompted action by the Grand Forks Police Department, Grand Forks Sheriff’s Office, and SWAT on Sunday night.
Weston Grant and Anthony Decoteau, both of Grand Forks, were watching the situation from the TJ Maxx Plaza parking lot.
Grant said he first heard about the situation on Facebook and then stopped after seeing the activity while driving down 32nd Avenue.
“There’s a sniper laying on top of that Tahoe,” Decoteau said, pointing a dark figure in the middle of the Wal Mart parking lot.
“I heard somebody was in there with a gun and has a hostage,” Grant said.
“There’s a guy with an AK-47 right over there,” Decoteau said, pointing to an area just behind the Red Lobster.
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photo by timothy charles holmseth Two members of the special operations team could be seen Sunday night on the perimeter of the Wal-Mart on 32nd Avenue in Grand Forks. One member, standing with a spotter, is holding a rifle that appears to be fitted with a tripod. |
At 11:46 a police officer told a woman that was waiting near Grease Monkey on the opposite end of the Wal-Mart - Sam's Club complex parking lot, “you’re good – you can go get your car”.