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Watford City woman accused of shooting woman in head at Fargo barbecue

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Brookfield Apartments, 4510 16th Ave. S., was the scene of a May 31 shooting in Fargo. A Watford City woman has been charged with attempted murder. April Baumgarten/ The Forum

FARGO — A Watford City, N.D., woman faces an attempted murder charge in Fargo after police said she shot another woman in the head at a barbecue two months ago.

Marilyn Bola Saibu, 25, appeared Wednesday, Aug. 5, in Cass County District Court on the charge connected to the May 31 shooting of Brenda Omenda at Brookfield Apartments, 4510 16th Ave. S., just south of the Fargo Scheels sporting goods store.

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Marilyn Bola Saibu

Fargo police responded to the apartment on May 31, when people had gathered in the parking lot for a barbecue, a criminal complaint filed Wednesday said. Omenda, who was in attendance, pulled out her phone to record another woman who was trying to fight her, according to the complaint.

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The woman’s friend, Saibu, also got into an altercation with Omenda while trying to take the phone to erase the video, court documents said. When Omenda tried to take her phone back, Saibu pulled out a gun, fired it into the air and then shot Omenda in the head, court documents allege.

Someone called 911, and several people took Omenda to a hospital for surgery, according to the complaint. After being released from the hospital, Omenda told police she had memories of Saibu shooting her, the complaint said.

Police interviewed several witnesses before speaking with Saibu on Monday. The defendant denied shooting Omenda, but police said in the complaint there is probable cause to believe Saibu shot Omenda.

Omenda was unable to immediately identify Saibu as the suspect since she was shot in the head, which played a role in developing probable cause for charges, Fargo Police Lt. George Vinson said. It took time for the case to progress as detectives worked on it, he said.

Saibu also faces a felony reckless endangerment charge.

The Fargo Police Department declined to release further information on Omenda, including her current condition, age and hometown due to concerns for privacy.

April Baumgarten has been a journalist in North Dakota since 2011. She joined The Forum in February 2019 as an investigative reporter. Readers can reach her at 701-241-5417 or abaumgarten@forumcomm.com.

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