In the quiet town of Moorhead, Minnesota, the night of August 11, 2025, shattered the calm of the 2400 block of Third Avenue North, leaving a community reeling from a devastating police shooting that claimed the lives of two brothers, Nathan Heiberg, 42, of Moorhead, and Lucas Heiberg, 41, of Grand Forks, North Dakota. What began as a response to a domestic violence call escalated into a fatal confrontation, sparking grief, questions, and an ongoing investigation into the events that unfolded.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is piecing together the harrowing sequence of events. Just after 8:45 p.m., Moorhead police received a distressing call from a woman who reported being physically assaulted by Nathan and Lucas Heiberg in an apartment. She also revealed that two young children, ages 5 and 6, were still inside the residence, heightening the urgency of the situation. Officers arrived swiftly, their priority to ensure the safety of the woman and children while addressing the alleged assault and a reported violation of a protection order.

As officers approached the apartment, they attempted to communicate with the brothers, but their efforts were met with silence. Positioning themselves in the hallway outside, they began to force the door open—a tense moment interrupted by the sudden crack of a gunshot from within the apartment. The officers, now facing an armed threat, retreated, called for reinforcements, and began evacuating nearby residents to secure the area. The Red River Valley SWAT Team, a multi-jurisdictional unit including Fargo police officers, was summoned to assist.

The SWAT team, led by seasoned Fargo officers Sgt. Michael Anderson, Sgt. Kyle Seehusen, and Officer Tyler Seehusen, entered the apartment at a critical juncture. Anderson, with 10 years of law enforcement experience, Kyle Seehusen with 12 years, and Tyler Seehusen with eight years, were all members of this specialized unit. What happened next remains under intense scrutiny: an exchange of gunfire erupted, and both Nathan and Lucas Heiberg were fatally wounded. Lucas was pronounced dead at the scene, while Nathan was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries shortly after. Miraculously, the two children inside the apartment were found unharmed, a small beacon of relief amid the tragedy.

Medical aid was provided to both brothers by officers and paramedics, but their injuries were too severe. The BCA recovered two firearms from the apartment, and body-worn cameras captured portions of the incident, offering critical evidence for the investigation. The Fargo Police Department placed the three officers on critical incident leave, a standard procedure as the BCA delves into the use of force. Once complete, the BCA’s findings will be presented to the Clay County Attorney’s Office for review, without recommendation, to determine whether the officers’ actions were justified.

The loss of Nathan and Lucas Heiberg has left a profound mark on the Red River Valley community. Neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots and described a heavy police presence that underscored the gravity of the situation. Friends and family of the brothers are grappling with their sudden and violent deaths, remembering them as family-oriented men whose lives were cut tragically short. Community leaders have called for transparency, urging the timely release of body camera footage to foster trust as the investigation unfolds.

Moorhead, a tight-knit community, now mourns alongside the Heiberg family, wrestling with the pain of loss and the complex questions surrounding police use of force. As the BCA continues its work, the town holds its breath, seeking answers and healing in the wake of a night that changed lives forever.