Mother of man killed outside West Fargo church says he slept there and called it home – InForum

WEST FARGO – The mother of the young man killed by gunfire outside Prairie Heights Community Church early Saturday morning said her son likely slept outside the West Fargo church that night because he had found a home in the community and with God.

Austin Strom, 25, was shot at 7:48 a.m. Saturday during an altercation with three people outside the church, 319 32nd Ave. E. in West Fargo. Police have released little information about their findings.

Mother Robin Strom told The Forum Sunday afternoon that her son returned to his hometown of Browerville, Minnesota, on Aug. 1 but wanted to stay in the Fargo-Moorhead area because of his love for the Prairie Heights church. She said Austin had been attending church for about six months and drives back and forth from central Minnesota, more than two hours away, to attend church activities and serve as a receptionist.

So Robin knew what it meant when she spoke to her son on Friday night and he said he was “home.” Later, she asked him if he was OK and he told her, “Mom, I'm more calm than I've ever been. I'm lying in church reading the Bible. That was the last message I received from my son.”

Austin told his father he wanted to sleep at the church, either outside the door or in his car, she said. Austin said he wanted to try to reach out to people and help them in any way he could.

Robin said Austin struggled with addiction, trauma and mental health issues at a young age. He was addicted to gambling for many years and eventually overcame that addiction. He even wrote about his story for the Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling. Robin said Austin was writing a book that he believed could help people battling trauma and addiction.

When asked if she thought Austin might have owed someone money and that led to his death, she said she highly doubted it. Robin also said she didn't think her son owned a gun or knew how to use one. She said Austin would probably defend himself if someone tried to harm him, but he was more interested in helping people than hurting anyone.

She says she still doesn't know what led to her son's gunshot death Saturday morning, and she's frustrated by the lack of information from police and investigators. Police told her on Sunday they would release more information on Monday, she said.

David Samson/The Forum

Austin's aunt, Rochelle Rech, set up an online GoFundMe fundraiser to help the family pay funeral expenses.

“It was my nephew Austin Strom who lost his life yesterday,” Rech wrote in an online chat accompanying the livestream of the 9 a.m. Sunday service in Prairie Heights. “He was a member of your church and it became his second home. I want to thank everyone who welcomed him with open and loving arms.”

Beth Nelson, the church's senior pastor, also mentioned Austin by name during the 9 a.m. Sunday service when discussing Saturday's incident in the church parking lot. She and church executive director Doug Peters both said the circumstances of Saturday's violence outside the church are still being investigated by police.

Rech, Austin's aunt, said in the online chat on Sunday: “Austin wanted to speak today and bring joy to everyone. He found God after all the low points he went through and you all lifted him up and we really appreciate that.”

Robin Strom / submitted

West Fargo police said Saturday that the other two people involved had been arrested. Police Chief Pete Nielsen said investigators are still working to determine the relationship between the three people and the reason they were at the church early in the morning.

Witnesses reported hearing screams before the gun was fired, and the police chief said at least one witness recorded the altercation.

“I don't know if it's self-defense or if charges will be filed. We will turn over a lot of our information to the prosecutor's office once the investigation is complete,” Nielsen said.

Police said the case is ongoing and no further comment is available at this time. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available, they said.

David Samson/The Forum

Austin's mother, Robin, said her son recently asked the family to come to church in Prairie Heights on Sunday.

“He had big plans for Sunday, but nobody really knows what those big plans were,” she said.

Although Austin died outside of church on Saturday, his family, including his younger sister and two younger brothers, made their way to Prairie Heights for the 11 a.m. Sunday service. Robin said it was really difficult to pull into the parking lot where her son died, but she said the family soon felt welcome and close to Austin.

“I can't thank Prairie Heights enough,” Robin said. “(Austin) spoke very positively about how compassionate and willing everyone was to help him through his difficulties. He accepted God into his life and that was thanks to Prairie Heights.”