Minnesota gunman dead after killing 2 cops and paramedic who tried to help them during hours-long standoff
Two Minnesota police officers and a paramedic were shot dead during an hours-long standoff with a man who barricaded himself inside his home with his family, according to officials.
Officers Matthew Ruge, 27, and Paul Elmstrand, 27, along with 40-year-old paramedic and firefighter Adam Finseth, were gunned down while trying to rescue a family from a house in a sleepy Burnsville neighborhood about 15 miles south of Minneapolis early Sunday, investigators announced during a press conference.
The still-unnamed shooter died at the scene, from what reports said appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, though his cause of death is still unconfirmed.
A fourth officer was injured in the shooting, but is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
Authorities had responded to domestic abuse calls about a man who had barricaded himself inside his home with his family — a woman and seven children ages 2 to 15 — around 1:50 a.m., police said. The call had been made by a resident inside the home.
When police arrived, it was determined the man had “multiple firearms” inside, with officers at the scene describing him as “dangerous” and “refusing to come out,” the Star Tribune reported.
After about four hours of negotiations with the man, gunfire erupted and two officers dropped, with one being hit while inside the home.
When Finseth tried to approach to rescue them, he was also gunned down.
About an hour later, another shot was heard from inside the house and it was learned the suspect had taken his own life, reports said.
“We have a caller calling from inside saying the dad is down,” dispatchers said around 6:55 a.m., according to the Tribune “He is not breathing. He is in the bedroom … He just shot himself in the head,” they said.
He was confirmed dead around 8 a.m.
The family was removed safely from the home shortly after, and police began searching the site.
“This individual had several guns and large amounts of ammunition and shot at the police officers from multiple positions within the home” across the first and second floors, said Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Evans noted there had been “Not many calls from this house for service at all” before the shootout, but said investigators were still looking into everything surrounding the home and family.
Throughout Sunday, hundreds of police officers stood vigil outside Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, where the victims’ bodies were taken.
“We must never take for granted the bravery and sacrifices our first responders make each and every day,” said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz 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 governor ordered flags flown at half-staff Monday.
Elmstrand had served with the Burnsville Police Department since 2017, Ruge since 2020, and Finseth had served with the city since 2019.
