In the city of Burnsville, located near Minneapolis, a tragic incident unfolded as law enforcement officials and emergency responders faced a perilous situation involving an armed man barricaded with his family, including seven children. Regrettably, in the early hours of Sunday, the armed individual opened fire during negotiations with the authorities, resulting in the devastating loss of two police officers and a paramedic.
The distressing event transpired shortly before 2 a.m., about 16 miles south of Minneapolis, following a call from a resident reporting an armed individual barricaded with family members, including children aged 2 to 15. Superintendent Drew Evans of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension revealed that officers engaged in prolonged negotiations with the barricaded man before he unleashed gunfire.
The victims, Police Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, both 27, along with firefighter-paramedic Adam Finseth, 40, who was part of the SWAT team, tragically lost their lives. Another officer, Sgt. Adam Medlicott sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital.
The assailant, armed with multiple weapons and ample ammunition, fired upon the officers from various positions within the residence, prompting a return of gunfire by law enforcement. The gunman was later reported deceased around 8 a.m., while the children and other family members managed to escape unharmed.
Superintendent Evans expressed the difficulty of the day during an emotional news conference, with community leaders acknowledging it as one of Burnsville’s most challenging experiences. Chief B.J. Jungmann of the Burnsville Fire Department described the day as the toughest in the city’s public safety history.
The Burnsville Police Department mourned the loss of Officer Elmstrand, who joined in August 2017, and Officer Ruge, who joined in April 2020 and played a role in crisis negotiation and evidence management. Firefighter-paramedic Finseth has been serving since February 2019.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded to the incident, classifying it as a “domestic-related shooting.” Alicia McCullum, a resident in the neighborhood, described waking up to gunshots, expressing concern for the seven children in the affected household.
City Council member and acting mayor Cara Schulz extended heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen officers and paramedic, while the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association conveyed deep sorrow, emphasizing the law enforcement community’s collective grief over the tragic loss.
Source: Nytimes
