BURNSVILLE, MN – The Hennepin County Medical Examiner revealed the identity of the shooter responsible for the deaths of two police officers and a firefighter on Sunday morning. Shannon Gooden, 38, of Burnsville, was killed in the shooting, with reports suggesting that he took his own life. Gooden had lost his right to own a gun due to a 2007 felony assault conviction and had been unsuccessful in petitioning for the restoration of his gun rights in 2020.
As the city continues to mourn, details about the three first responders killed in the tragedy have been released. Officer Elmstrand, Officer Ruge, and Firefighter Finseth were tragically killed during a response to a domestic situation. The gunman, Gooden, was reportedly barricaded in a home with family members when the situation escalated into gunfire, leaving the three first responders dead.
Authorities reported that there were seven children present in the home at the time of the shooting. Governor Tim Walz ordered all U.S. and Minnesota flags to fly at half-staff at all state buildings as a tribute to the fallen first responders. “We must never take for granted the bravery and sacrifices our first responders make each and every day,” said Walz in a statement, expressing gratitude to the officers and firefighter for their dedicated service and sacrifice.
Emotional remarks were also made by Fire Chief BJ Jungmann, expressing the grief and the tragic impact of the incident on the city and its public safety family. “It’s a tragic day. We’re all grieving and we’re all trying to understand what happened and why,” said Jungmann at the press conference.
The community of Burnsville and the state of Minnesota are in mourning, with residents and businesses encouraged to join in lowering their flags in honor of the fallen first responders. The devastating event has left the city in shock and mourning, as the investigations into the shooting continue to unfold.