Two Minnesota Officers, One Paramedic Dead After Domestic Dispute

Minnesota is mourning the loss of two police officers and a paramedic after they were killed in the line of duty on Sunday.

According to Superintendent Drew Evans of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, officers were dispatched to a home in Burnsville, a suburb close to Minneapolis, around 1:30 a.m. regarding a domestic dispute.

He reported that several people were barricaded inside the home with an armed suspect. Seven of the victims trapped in the home were children ages two to 15.

Evans stated that negotiations lasted a few hours when the gunman opened fire on police.

Officers Paul Elmstrand, 27, and Matthew Ruge, 27, along with firefighter and paramedic Adam Finseth, 40, were killed by the suspect. Another officer, Sgt. Adam Medlicott, 38, was also shot. He was released on Monday from the hospital and is currently recovering at home.

The gunman was identified on Monday night as Shannon Gooden. The 38-year-old’s girlfriend made the call to 911, accusing him of endangering one of her children. Gooden was found dead in the house around 8 a.m., committing suicide before the SWAT team was able to apprehend him.

Gooden’s girlfriend and all seven children were unharmed and escorted to safety.

Police Chief Tanya Schwartz stated that the department was “hurting” after Sunday’s tragic event.

“Today, three members of our team made the ultimate sacrifice for this community. They are heroes,” Schwartz said. “Every day we pray that they go home to their families. And today that’s not happening. We’re heartbroken. We are going to need time to be together. Our families need time to grieve.”

The three heroes received a salute from officers from across the state as they were being transported from the hospital to the medical examiner’s office. They were joined by several hospital staff and members of the community wishing to pay their respects.

Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff and suggested that anyone walking by take a moment to remember the fallen heroes. In an X post, he said that “the entire State of Minnesota stands with Burnsville.”

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