Mother of man killed outside West Fargo church says he slept there, called it home (2024)

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

Austin Strom, 25, was shot during an altercation involving three people at 7:48 a.m. Saturday outside the church, 319 32nd Ave. E. in West Fargo. Police have so far released little information about what they've learned.

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

That's why when Robin talked to her son on Friday night and he said he was "home," she knew what that meant. She later asked him if he was OK and he told her, "'Mom, I am the most serene I have ever been. I am laying at the church reading scripture.' That was the last message I received from my son."

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

Robin Strom / submitted

Robin said Austin struggled with addiction, trauma and mental health challenges in his early life. He was addicted to gambling for many years and had finally beat that addiction, even writing about his story for the Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling . Robin said Austin was writing a book that he thought would help people battling trauma and addiction.

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

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

David Samson/The Forum

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

"It was my newphew Austin Strom who lost his life yesterday," Rech wrote in an online chat accompanying the livestream of Sunday's 9 a.m. services at 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, lead pastor at the church, also named Austin during 9 a.m. Sunday services, which were dedicated to discussing Saturday's incident in the church parking lot. She and church Executive Director Doug Peters both said the circ*mstances of Saturday's violence outside the church were still being investigated by police.

Rech, Austin's aunt, said in the online chat Sunday that, "Austin was hoping to speak today and bring joy today to everyone. He found God after all the downs he had been through and you all brought him up and we appreciate that so much."

Robin Strom / submitted

West Fargo Police said Saturday the two other people who were involved were detained. Police Chief Pete Nielsen said investigators are still working to determine the relationship between the three people and why they were at the church early in the morning.

Witnesses described hearing yelling before the gun was fired, and the chief said at least one witness recorded the altercation.

"I don't know if it's self-defense, if charges will be pending. We'll be referring a lot of our information to the state's attorney's office as soon as the investigation starts to wrap up," Nielsen said.

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

David Samson/The Forum

Austin's mom, Robin, said her son recently asked the family to be at Sunday's Prairie Heights church services.

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

Despite Austin's Saturday death outside the church, his family, including his younger sister and two younger brothers, made the trip to Prairie Heights for Sunday's 11 a.m. service. Robin said it was really difficult pulling into the parking lot where her son died, but she said the family soon felt welcomed and close to Austin.

"I can't thank Prairie Heights enough," Robin said. "(Austin) talked very highly about how everybody was so compassionate and willing to help him through his struggles. He accepted God into his life and it was because of Prairie Heights."