Suspect named in Minnesota shooting that killed 2 officers, firefighter during domestic dispute

Christopher Cann
 USA TODAYShow CaptionHide Caption#videoDetailsToggle{color:var( –color-dove-gray,rgba(0,0,0,.6));cursor:pointer;display:inline-block;font-family:var(–sans-serif,sans-serif);font-size:var(–type-7);font-weight:var( –font-weight-bold,900);line-height:var(–spacer-twentyfour,24px);margin-bottom:-8px}#vdt_hide{margin-bottom:10px}.vdt-flex[hidden]{display:none}.vdt-svg{fill:var( –color-dove-gray,rgba(0,0,0,.6));height:var(–spacer-twentyfour,24px);width:var(–spacer-twentyfour,24px)}2 officers, 1 first responder killed by gunman in Minnesota; suspect deadTwo police officers and a first responder were shot and killed and a third officer was injured in a Minneapolis home in an exchange of gunfire.

A man accused in the past of assault and domestic violence was identified Monday as the gunman who opened fire on first responders in Burnsville, Minnesota, killing two police officers and a firefighter before he was found dead.

The shooting that broke out early Sunday after hours of negotiations shocked the residents of the suburban outpost, 15 miles from downtown Minneapolis, and baffled law enforcement.

The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the suspect Monday as Shannon Cortez Gooden, 38, of Burnsville. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the medical examiner said.

Gooden had an assault conviction on his record and several women accused him of domestic violence, according to court records. No information was immediately available on a possible motive.

Here’s what we know so far:

What happened in Burnsville?

Officers were called to the home in the suburban neighborhood around 1:50 a.m. Sunday in response to a domestic dispute in which Gooden was armed and barricaded with his family, including seven children ages 2 to 15.

Once police arrived, they spent hours negotiating with the suspect before he started firing at them from different parts of the house, said Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans at a news conference. Police returned fire.

Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge and firefighter Adam Finseth, who also worked as a paramedic, were killed, the city said in a statement. One other officer, Sgt. Adam Medlicott, was injured and taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Finseth, part of a SWAT team that had been called to the scene, was providing aid to an injured officer when he was shot, authorities said.

The medical examiner’s office said Monday that the three victims died in the emergency room at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis of gunshot wounds. Medlicott was released from the hospital on Monday afternoon.

Suspect accused of domestic violence

Several women have accused Gooden of domestic violence, and, in 2008, he was convicted of assault after he allegedly pulled out a 7-inch knife during a fight, according to court records. Because of his conviction, he was banned for life from possessing firearms.In August 2020, he petitioned the court to restore his gun rights. Citing his conviction and the multiple domestic violence allegations against Gooden, the Dakota County District Attorney’s Office urged the court to deny his request, which it did two months later.Court records said Gooden, who had five children at the time, sought firearm rights to “protect not only himself but his family as well.” The petition said he had committed himself to his family and career and had taken “significant steps to prove his value as a productive and law abiding citizen.”He took anger management classes, completed a parenting course, graduated from Dakota Technical College in 2013 with an associate degree and started working in an auto-body repair shop, the petition said.“Mr. Gooden greatly regrets and has learned from the poor decisions of his past,” the petition said. “He would like to have a second chance to prove himself as a productive member of society.”

Sunday’s standoff between Gooden and police came about two days before a scheduled district court hearing over Gooden’s ongoing legal disputes with the mother of his three oldest children. He had been in a yearslong dispute over the custody and financial support of his children, according to court records.

Court records show that Gooden had accused the children’s mother of neglect and she called him “controlling,” accusing him of abusing her and the children.

Suspect found dead; children were unharmed

Around 8 a.m., police found Gooden dead inside the home, Evans said. The children were unharmed.

Evans called it a “terrible day” and said authorities were still investigating the exchange of gunfire that occurred. Officials will review officers’ body-camera footage and conduct interviews as part of the investigation.

Suspect was heavily armed

The suspect had several guns and large amounts of ammunition, Evans said. He did not say what kind of firearms Gooden had or whether they were bought legally.

At least one of the officers killed was shot inside the home and investigators are “still piecing together” where the other two victims were shot, Evans said.

Gunshots were ‘like a bunch of fireworks’

Neighbors say they were awakened by the sound of loud pops before sunrise.

“I didn’t think it was a gunshot at first, but then we opened the windows and we saw police everywhere and police hiding in our neighbors’ yards,” said Alicia McCullum, who lives two houses down from the site of the shooting.

“Then there were three more gunshots,” she said. “It was like a bunch of fireworks.” That’s when she and her husband and two children sought safety in a bathroom, dropped to the floor and prayed.

McCullum said she was relieved to see a woman and children escorted out of the home. “We’re so thankful for those police officers that risked their lives to save those kids,” McCullum said. “And my heart goes out to that mother.”

Candlelight vigil for fallen first responders

Outside Burnsville City Hall, hundreds of people, including law enforcement and first responders from neighboring communities, gathered Sunday night to remember Elmstrand, Ruge and Finseth.

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig spoke at the candlelight vigil, addressing the grieving families and the crowd, which erupted in applause: “I can’t imagine the pain that you’re all going through, but what I can say is that to all our officers out there, the paramedics, our firefighters, thank you for what you do.”

Gov. Tim Walz ordered flags be lowered starting at sunrise on Monday in honor of the officers who were killed.

Contributing: Associated Press; John Bacon, Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY

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