Responder Archives

Wife of Fallen First Responder Shares Heartfelt Tribute to Husband’s Life

Burnsville, Minnesota – The wife of Paul Elmstrand, one of three first responders tragically killed in a shooting incident on Sunday, has shared a heartfelt statement about her late husband’s passing. In a press release issued by the City of Burnsville on behalf of Cindy Elmstrand-Castruita, she expressed the profound grief and loss felt by their family. Describing Paul as an extraordinary husband, father, son, and friend, Cindy emphasized his loving and generous nature. She …

Prohibited from Owning a Firearm: Fatal Shooting of Minnesota Police Officers and First Responder Shock Community

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The man responsible for the fatal shooting of two Minnesota police officers and a first responder was found to have been prohibited from owning a firearm, court records show. The shooter, identified as Shannon Gooden, 38, had a history of being banned from possessing firearms as a result of a previous assault conviction. Despite these restrictions, Gooden had multiple guns and a significant amount of ammunition when he opened fire on law …

Virginia Mourns Loss of Firefighter and Reflects on First Responder Dangers After Tragic Weekend

Roanoke County, Virginia – Amidst tributes and mourning for the firefighter tragically killed in the Loudoun County house explosion, a somber reminder of the dangers faced by first responders has struck the community. This comes in the wake of the tragic deaths of two police officers and a firefighter in Minneapolis, Minnesota, over the same weekend, highlighting the risks associated with the noble profession of emergency response. For Roanoke County Fire and Rescue, the incidents …

Tragic Shooting in Minnesota Leaves Two Police Officers and First Responder Dead

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Three individuals, including two police officers and a first responder, were tragically shot and killed while responding to a domestic dispute call in Burnsville, Minnesota. The incident took place in a house where multiple children were present, but thankfully, all the children were safely rescued. The shooter, who has not been publicly identified, is also dead, and the circumstances of the shooter’s death have not been disclosed by authorities. The slain officers, …

Tragic Shooting in Burnsville, Minnesota Claims Lives of 2 Police Officers and a First Responder

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Three first responders lost their lives while answering a call for assistance in Burnsville, Minnesota, on Sunday, according to Governor Tim Walz. Officers Paul Elmstrand, 27, and Matthew Ruge, 27, along with firefighter and paramedic Adam Finseth, 40, were identified as the victims by the city of Burnsville. Another officer, Adam Medlicott, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital. Authorities were summoned to a residence at 1:50 a.m. local time …

Tragedy Strikes in Burnsville, MN as Two Police Officers and First Responder Are Fatally Wounded

Two police officers and a first responder tragically lost their lives while responding to a call in the city of Burnsville, Minnesota. The incident occurred when they were attempting to assist a suspect who had barricaded himself inside a residence. The suspect, armed and dangerous, unleashed a barrage of gunfire, resulting in the fatal injuries of the three responders. The community of Burnsville, along with the broader law enforcement community, is in deep mourning following …

Former Aurora Police Officer Calls for Changes to First Responder Training After Elijah McClain Sentencing

AURORA, Colo. – Randy Roedema, a former Aurora police officer, has been sentenced to 14 months in jail and four years of probation for his involvement in the death of Elijah McClain. Roedema, the first officer to be convicted in the case, was found guilty of third-degree assault and criminally negligent homicide. During his sentencing, he called for changes to the training of first responders in handling similar cases to avoid tragic outcomes like McClain’s. …