Moorhead ( trfnews.i234.me ) – An incident involving a report of a possible gunshot in Moorhead ended Wednesday with no evidence of gunfire. The response took place in the 1800 block of 20th Street South.
According to Moorhead Police, an officer was conducting a follow-up at about 9:30 a.m. As the officer approached a building, he heard a loud sound that he believed might be a gunshot. He immediately requested backup.
Out of caution, a large police presence was deployed. Officers issued a shelter-in-place notification for the surrounding area. Nearby schools also entered lockdown procedures. Those precautions were lifted once the area was determined to be safe.
Officers used several tools during the response, including a drone and a Bearcat armored vehicle. Police interviewed people in the area and reviewed video surveillance to determine what happened.
The investigation found that the loud noise was caused by a mechanical malfunction in an HVAC system. The malfunction produced a sound consistent with a gunshot, leading to the initial concern. Police say there is no evidence that a firearm was discharged.
Officials say the officer acted in good faith and followed department protocol by calling for assistance. Moorhead Police Chief said, “We take all reports of possible gunfire seriously and respond with the resources necessary to protect our community.”
The area has since returned to normal operations, and no threat to the public was identified.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
