Officer Cody Holte, National Guardsman, Killed in Shootout
Statements from Mayor Michael R. Brown North Dakota National Guard regarding yesterday’s shooting incident that resulted in the death of Grand Forks Police Officer Cody Holte and injuring Grand Forks Sheriff’s Corporal Ron Nord.
Major General Alan Dohrmann:
“On May 27 our state lost one of its finest, when Officer Cody Holte of the Grand Forks police department was killed in the line of duty. Officer Holte was also a First Lieutenant in the North Dakota Army National Guard. Cody dedicated his life to serving his community, state, and nation, always putting the needs of his Soldiers and the citizens he served above his own. On behalf of all the Soldiers and Airmen of the North Dakota National Guard, Becky and I extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, son, parents and loved ones.”
Brig. Gen. Leo Ryan:
“Yesterday we lost a brother-in- arms, 1st Lt. Cody Holte. He served as the commander of Det 2, 815th Engineer Company and was a true Soldier. Cody was a selfless leader who spent countless hours preparing his unit for upcoming missions. He led from the front and always put his Soldiers’ needs before his own. Lt. Holte performed every duty to the best of his ability and mentored and motivated his Soldiers to the highest level of readiness. All the Soldiers of the N.D. Army National Guard will miss Cody; we send our deepest condolences to his family and friends.”
1st Lt. Cody Holte, 29, assigned to the Lisbon-based 815th Engineer Company was killed in the line of duty in Grand Forks N.D. Holte enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2010, he later commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the N.D. Army National Guard in 2015, where he served until the time of his death.
Holte and Corporal Patrick Torok arrived at an apartment in south Grand Forks to assist two sheriff’s deputies who were serving eviction papers when an occupant opened fire. Police say Holte sustained multiple gunfire wounds and later died. A 61 year old was also killed on the scene, Local news knoxradio reported. The shooter 41-year-old Salamah Pendleton, was wounded.
GFPD Release via knoxradio
On May 27th, 2020 at approximately 2:24 PM, Sergeant Kelly McLean and Corporal Ron Nord responded to 2627 S 17th St #303 to serve a Writ of Restitution as ordered by a Judge. The Writ of Restitution ordered Deputies to remove Salamah Pendleton, Lola Moore, and all possessions any time after 5/24/2020 at 11:59 pm. Uniformed deputies knocked and received no answer at the door. Deputies gained access to the apartment and observed Salamah Pendleton retreat to a bedroom. Deputies gave several commands to Pendleton to come out of the bedroom. Eventually deputies opened the bedroom door. Upon opening the door, Deputies were overtaken by heavy gunfire and retreated away from the door. Deputies immediately radioed for assistance and several agencies responded. Corporal Ron Nord was shot in the upper leg and abdomen. He is in stable condition.
Sergeant Kelly McLean is in his 28th year with the Sheriff’s Office and former assistant team leader of the Grand Forks Regional SWAT Team.
Corporal Ron Nord is a veteran of the US Air Force and is in his 34th year of law enforcement. He has been the Civil process Deputy with the Sheriff’s Office for 9 years.
The first uniformed Grand Forks Police Department officers arriving on scene were Corporal Patrick Torok, a 27+ year veteran of the GFPD, and a 25+ year veteran of the Grand Forks Regional SWAT Team, and Officer Cody Holte, a 3 year and 3 month veteran of the GFPD, and a member of the Grand Forks Sheriff’s Office Regional Water Rescue Team.
Corporal Torok and Officer Holte immediately entered into the apartment, coming to the aid of the deputies under fire. Gunfire was exchanged in multiple volleys between Pendleton and the officers on scene. Through the exchanges, Pendleton received several gunfire wounds. Aid was rendered on scene, and he was transported to Altru for his injuries. Lola Moore, 61-year-old Grand Forks resident, was killed by gunfire during the course of the incident. Deputy Ron Nord suffered gunfire wounds, was assisted on scene and transported for medical aid. Officer Cody Holte suffered multiple gunfire wounds during the incident. Emergency medical aid was rendered by officers on scene. Those officers ultimately carried Officer Holte out of the apartment and to the ambulance for transport to Altru, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Officer Cody Holte leaves behind his wife and infant son, and we ask that you remember them in your thoughts and prayers.