The Hennepin County Medical Examiner on Monday identified the man who shot and killed two Burnsville police officers and a paramedic during an hours-long standoff as Shannon Cortez Gooden.
Gooden, 38, took his own life, the medical examiner’s office said Tuesday.
Court records show that Gooden’s history includes a conviction for assault and two orders for protection filed against him by women who alleged that he was abusive.
Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge and firefighter and paramedic Adam Finseth were shot and killed Sunday morning after responding to a domestic abuse call. Elmstrand and Ruge were both 27, and Finseth was 40. Police Sgt. Adam Medlicott, 38, was shot and injured; he was released from the hospital Monday.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the incident.
BCA Superintendent Drew Evans said at a press conference Sunday that police were called to the 12600 block of 33rd Avenue South in Burnsville about 1:50 a.m. Sunday on a report of a domestic incident where a man, later identified as Gooden, was said to be armed and barricaded with family members.
Officers spent “quite a bit of time” negotiating with Gooden, and additional officers responded, Evans said. At one point, Gooden opened fire.
Seven children between the ages of 2 and 15 were barricaded inside the home. Gooden was reported to be dead by 8 a.m., and all family members were safely evacuated from the residence afterwards.
Evans said at least one of the men killed was inside the residence when he was shot. Investigators were still investigating where the other men were located when they were shot. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office listed Ruge’s, Elmstrand’s, and Finseth’s time of death as 6:33 a.m., 6:39 a.m. and 6:46 a.m., respectively.
Elmstrand was shot multiple times, Ruge was shot in the chest, and Finseth was shot in the arm and torso, according to the medical examiner’s office.
According to court documents, Gooden pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon in a 2007 case, leading him to lose his right to own guns. In 2020, he petitioned the court for his right to own a gun to be reinstated.
The Dakota County Attorney’s Office opposed Gooden’s request, and pointed to two order of protection petitions that women had filed against Gooden. Gooden’s request was denied.
The petitions were eventually dismissed after one woman failed to appear in court, and because the allegations in the other petition were not proven, court documents said.
Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association Executive Director Brian Peters said in a statement that the law enforcement community is “heartbroken.”
“We’re just devastated at the horrific loss,” Peters’ statement said. “These heroes leave behind loved ones and a community who will forever remember their bravery and dedication to keeping Minnesotans safe.”
Burnsville Police Chief Tanya Schwartz said at Sunday’s news conference that the men made the “ultimate sacrifice.”
“Our police officers and our fire paramedics, they come to work every day, they do it willingly,” Schwartz said. “They know that they might have to give up their life for their partners, for someone else. They know they have to give up their life sometime, and they do it anyways. And you cannot understand it if you’re not in the profession.”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz ordered that flags fly at half-staff in honor of the first responders.
“We must never take for granted the bravery and sacrifices our first responders make each and every day,” Walz said in a statement. “Today, the families of these public servants received the call they knew was possible but hoped would never come. My heart is with those grieving families — the State of Minnesota stands ready to support in any way we can. This is a tragic loss for our state.”
The city of Burnsville has warned the public against scam fundraisers, and said official donation pages to support the families of the officers will be posted on the city’s website later this week.
