Police name Fargo man as Friday homicide victim – InForum

FARGO — The Fargo Police Department has identified the man killed in a Friday, Aug. 23, shooting in the 2200 block of 12th Avenue South.

Sampson Bleh, 35, of Fargo, was fatally shot in the chest, police said in a Saturday release.

While one person was detained Friday, Fargo police Capt. Bill Ahlfeldt said Saturday morning, “The individual who was temporarily detained yesterday was released after detectives and investigators determined they were not a suspect in this incident.”

No suspects were named as of late Saturday morning.

Around 1:16 pm Friday, police were called to 2202 12th Avenue South for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found Bleh with a gunshot wound to the chest, according to the Fargo Police Department.

The “suspect(s)” fled the scene, an area surrounded by apartment buildings east of Fargo Cass Public Health, before officers arrived, police said.

A Forum reporter saw several police officers holding rifles around a building in the Maplewood Bend apartment complex at 1128 22nd St. S.

A witness told The Forum the two men involved in the shooting were “play fighting” when one punched the other in the face. The man who was punched then shot the other, the witness said.

Police began to leave the area around 3 pm, with many officers moving a few blocks north to a scene outside The Arbors affordable housing complex.

There, a police officer was seen talking to a man in the back of an unmarked police vehicle. Witnesses told reporters they saw officers use a Taser on the man.

At a press conference later Friday afternoon, Ahlfeldt said a person of interest was detained near The Arbors in connection to the shooting. That person was later released.

Police said they believe the shooter and victim knew each other.

The shooting remains under investigation, and no other information was immediately available.

Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call Red River Regional Dispatch Center at 701-451-7660 and ask to speak with a Fargo Police Department shift commander. Anonymous tips can be submitted by texting keyword FARGOPD and the tip to 847411.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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