MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – A tragic incident unfolded in a Burnsville neighborhood early Sunday morning, as Shannon Cortez Gooden unleashed a barrage of over 100 rounds at police and first responders during a predawn standoff, claiming the lives of two officers and a paramedic. State investigators revealed these harrowing details, shedding light on the deadly encounter that took place at Gooden’s residence on S. 33rd Avenue.
The victims of this senseless act of violence were identified as officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, both 27, along with firefighter/paramedic Adam Finseth, 40. A public memorial service is scheduled for the fallen heroes at Grace Church in Eden Prairie. Another officer, Sgt. Adam Medlicott, 38, was injured in the exchange but is currently recovering at home.
According to a statement released by the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and court documents, the tragedy unfolded when officers were responding to reports of a sexual assault at Gooden’s home just before 2 a.m. Despite initial attempts at negotiation, Gooden abruptly opened fire on the officers around 5:26 a.m., resulting in fatal injuries to Elmstrand, Ruge, and Medlicott.
In the chaos that ensued, officer Daniel Wical and Medlicott returned fire, managing to wound Gooden in the leg. Tragically, the violence escalated as the officers were transferring to an armored vehicle, leading to the fatal shooting of Finseth as he attempted to assist his colleagues. Elmstrand, Ruge, and Finseth succumbed to their injuries at Hennepin County Medical Center.
The stand-off continued as Gooden persistently fired at law enforcement units and the armored vehicle. The situation came to a tragic end when Gooden took his own life by shooting himself in the head. During the subsequent investigation, BCA crime scene personnel discovered multiple firearms, a significant amount of ammunition, and numerous cartridge casings at the scene, confirming that Gooden had fired more than 100 rifle rounds at the responders.
Video footage from police body-worn and squad cameras was collected for review by BCA investigators. Once the investigation is concluded, the findings will be passed on to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office for further examination and potential charges. The community is left mourning the loss of these brave individuals, grappling with the aftermath of this devastating event.