Man accused of killing North Dakota cop says he feared for his life

July 13, 2021

GRAND FORKS, ND – A man accused of fatally shooting his mother and a Grand Forks, North Dakota police officer after authorities tried to serve him with eviction papers has told a jury he feared for his life and didn’t mean to kill anyone.

Forty two year-old Salamah Pendleton is facing two counts of murder for the deaths of Lola Moore and police Officer Cody Holte in a May 2020 shootout at an apartment Pendleton shared with Moore.

Pendleton said he wanted to surrender but was traumatized when he saw his mother’s body in the hallway. He said he was aiming for the legs of the officers but his vision was impaired because he wasn’t wearing his glasses.

Closing arguments are scheduled today (Tuesday).