Crime
65-year-old Peter Greco shot and killed by Fargo officers
Authorities have identified the man fatally shot by officers during a police interaction in south Fargo on Wednesday, Nov. 13.
The victim has been named as 65-year-old Peter Greco, who was shot after exiting his home armed with a handgun following a prolonged conversation with police.
Incident Overview
According to the Fargo Police Department, officers were dispatched to Greco’s residence in the 6100 block of 61st Avenue South, located about half a mile south of Deer Creek Elementary School, at 10:12 a.m.
The call stemmed from concerns about Greco’s well-being, as he had reportedly expressed suicidal thoughts.
Officers Sgt. Lucas Mock and Officer Princeten Harris engaged in conversation with Greco for more than 30 minutes in an effort to de-escalate the situation.
Despite their efforts, Greco exited the home armed with a handgun. At this point, both officers fired their weapons, fatally striking him.
Emergency medical personnel and Fargo Fire Department units, already on scene due to the nature of the call, immediately rendered aid to Greco. Despite their efforts, Greco was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officer Backgrounds
The officers involved have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of a use-of-force investigation by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Sgt. Lucas Mock
- Tenure: Joined Fargo Police Department in 2016 as a patrol officer.
- Promotions: Promoted to sergeant in November 2021.
- Roles: Day shift supervisor in the Neighborhood Services Division.
- Additional Duties:
- Commander of the department’s Crowd Management Team.
- Former member of the Red River Valley SWAT team for four years.
- Instructor in the Training and Development Unit.
Officer Princeten Harris
- Tenure: Recently graduated from Fargo Police Academy Class VII.
- Current Status: Completing the Police Training Officer program.
- Experience: On the force for 10 months at the time of the incident.
Community and Department Response
Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski emphasized the efforts made by officers to de-escalate the situation before the fatal shooting.
The department has committed to transparency as the investigation continues.
Next Steps
The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation is conducting a thorough review of the incident, including the officers’ actions and the circumstances leading to the use of force. Both officers will remain on administrative leave until the investigation concludes.
This incident underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in responding to mental health crises, and authorities are urging anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts to seek help by contacting local resources or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Crime
Kenneth Cook Arrested for Incest After Fathering Three Children with Biological Daughter Alexzandrea Thomas
MacArthur, W.Va. – A Raleigh County man has been arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including incest, sexual abuse, and child neglect, after authorities discovered he had an incestuous relationship with his biological daughter, resulting in the birth of three children.
According to a criminal complaint, 43-year-old Kenneth Cook, of MacArthur, West Virginia, was taken into custody on Thursday, March 6.
He is facing charges of:
- Sexual abuse by a parent or custodian
- Third-degree sexual assault
- Child neglect
- Three counts of incest
Investigators allege that between 2019 and March 2024, Cook engaged in a non-consensual sexual relationship with his biological daughter, Alexzandrea Thomas, which led to the birth of three children, currently aged 5, 3, and 1.
The complaint states that Alexzandrea Thomas is now 21 years old, meaning that the first child was conceived when she was under the age of 16, and Cook was 38 years old at the time.
Throughout this period, Cook and Thomas were residing together in the same household.
Authorities launched an investigation following a referral from Child Protective Services (CPS) regarding concerns of abuse and neglect involving the youngest child, who, at one year old, weighed only six pounds.
Medical personnel at Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC) determined that the 1-year-old was severely malnourished and exhibited signs of medical neglect, as his health had continued to deteriorate without proper intervention.
Further concerns were raised when the attending physician noted physical characteristics commonly associated with an incestuous relationship.
This prompted genetic testing, which was conducted on all three children and later sent to the Mayo Clinic for analysis.
The test results confirmed that the children’s parents shared a first-generational biological relationship, indicating that their parents were either a parent and child or full-blooded siblings.
As Thomas has no full-blooded siblings, investigators determined that Cook was the biological father of all three children.
Cook is currently being held at Southern Regional Jail on a $500,000 bond as the investigation continues.