BURNSVILLE, Minn. – More details have been released by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) regarding the tragic shooting in Burnsville on February 18th, where two police officers and a firefighter/paramedic lost their lives.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner has confirmed that officers Matthew Ruge and Paul Elmstrand, as well as firefighter/paramedic Adam Finseth, died from gunshot wounds inflicted by Shannon Gooden, 38, of Burnsville, who then turned the gun on himself. Additionally, three Burnsville police officers who discharged their firearms during the incident have been identified.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the officers responded to a domestic incident at a home in Burnsville early in the morning, where they were met by Gooden. Despite attempts to negotiate with Gooden and peacefully resolve the situation, he opened fire on the officers without warning, resulting in a tragic loss of life.
The BCA has reported that Gooden continued to fire shots at law enforcement and first responders, even as they attempted to intervene. It was also revealed that he had fired more than 100 rifle rounds during the incident.
There is footage of the incident from body cameras and squad car cameras, which the BCA is currently reviewing as part of their ongoing investigation. The Burnsville Police Department has requested that the BCA thoroughly investigate the entire incident, including the events leading up to the 911 call, the incident itself, and the use-of-force by the officers.
Once the investigation is completed, the BCA will present its findings to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office for review. This tragic event has deeply affected the community, and authorities are working diligently to uncover the full truth behind this heartbreaking loss of life.