Suspected Killer of Minnesota EMT, Police Officers Identified

Minneapolis, MN (KROC-AM News)- Officials have released the identity of the man suspected of fatally shooting an EMT/firefighter and two police officers in the Twin Cities.

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Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, both 27-years-old and Rochester native Adam Finseth lost their lives in the Burnsville shooting Sunday morning.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner identified the shooter as 38-year-old Shannon Cortez Gooden. His manner of death was ruled as a suicide caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Court records indicate Gooden was not allowed to own firearms due to a felony second-degree assault conviction in Dakota County. He also attempted to get his right to firearms restored but was denied in 2020.

Officers were dispatched to a residence Gooden was at on the report of a domestic assault shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday. Gooden was reported to have been armed and barricaded in the house while holding seven children hostage.

Burnsville Police Dept. photo

The medical examiner also confirmed the three first responders died by homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds. The men were pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center in downtown Minneapolis.

City of Burnsville

The autopsy lists Rouge as a Northfield resident. KROC News has learned he used to live in Wabasha County. Finseth, who graduated from Rochester John Marshall High School in 2001 resided in Savage and Elmstrand lived in Chaska.

The Minnesota BCA said Sunday their Use of Force Investigation Unit had responded to the scene to conduct a preliminary investigation. The state agency plans to release more information regarding the tragic shooting upon completion of that investigation.

If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website. Resource information is provided for free as well as a chat message service. To speak directly to a professional, call 988. You are not alone and help is available. Every life is important.