BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension revealed new information on Wednesday about the tragic shooting of three first responders over the weekend in Burnsville. Investigators disclosed that Shannon Gooden, 38, used multiple firearms in a standoff early Sunday, resulting in the deaths of officers Paul Elmstrand, Matthew Ruge, and paramedic Adam Finseth. The incident took place in a house on 33rd Avenue, in a subdivision near Interstate 35E and Highway 77, after officers responded to a call about a reported sexual assault.
During the standoff, Gooden retreated into a bedroom and barricaded himself, ultimately refusing to cooperate with negotiations for surrender. He later opened fire on the officers and the medic, fatally wounding them before retreating back into the bedroom. Police, in turn, returned fire, and with the help of a drone, a SWAT team discovered Gooden dead in the bedroom with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head.
Gooden, who was convicted of second-degree felony assault in 2008, was prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. Investigators sought permission to search a cellphone that belonged to Gooden’s ex-girlfriend, Noemi Torres, to potentially gain insight into his mindset leading up to the incident. Torres, who shares three children with Gooden, was present with her children during the shootout.
Court filings from previous years reveal allegations of violence and abuse by Gooden against his romantic partners. At least three women in Minnesota have filed requests for protection from him, and he has faced previous convictions and charges related to domestic violence. Torres recounted years of constant abuse by Gooden, including physical confrontation and frequent threats.
In 2020, Torres alleged that Gooden had even incited another woman to assault her. Gooden’s history of threatening law enforcement was also brought to light, as reported by Torres, who had experienced his deadly threats firsthand. Despite these documented instances of violence and threats, a judge had previously ordered that the children spend two-thirds of their time with Gooden in a custody case.