2 police officers, paramedic killed on domestic threat call in Minnesota
The shootings occurred after officers responded to a call involving an armed man who had barricaded himself inside with family, including seven children.
BURNSVILLE, Minn. (AP) — A man armed with multiple guns shot at police from inside a home in a Minneapolis suburb, killing two officers and a firefighter, authorities said.
A third officer was wounded in the shooting early Sunday in Burnsville. The suspect in the shooting also died, officials said.
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said there was an exchange of gunfire. Authorities were still piecing together details.
The firefighter-paramedic who was killed was providing aid to an injured officer when he was shot, authorities said. Evans told a news conference the paramedic was a part of a SWAT team that had been called to a domestic situation.
The shootings occurred after officers responded to a call involving an armed man who had barricaded himself inside with family, including seven children. Officials said the family was able to leave the home safely.
Details on how the suspect died were not immediately released.
The shootings took place in a suburban neighborhood in Burnsville, Minnesota, which was ringed with police cars that kept the press and public away from the scene where the shootings took place.
City officials said in a news release that it started as a report of a domestic situation. “After arriving, the situation escalated into gunfire with responders,” the statement said, adding that the officers and first responder “were killed by the gunman during the response.”
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association said negotiations with the suspect went on for four hours before a SWAT team entered the home.
City officials identified the slain officers as Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, both 27, and the firefighter as Adam Finseth, 40. Another police officer, Sgt. Adam Medlicott, was injured and being treated at a hospital with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries, the city said.
The shooting happened in a tree-lined neighborhood with modest split-level homes on large lots. A police armored vehicle parked nearby had bullet damage to its windshield, but there was no confirmation on whether that was the result of the incident. The street was lined with police cars, firefighters and ambulances.
Police scanner recordings on Broadcastify.com capture a rattled man saying, “I need any ambulance,” as he struggled to catch his breath. Someone later could be heard talking about three being loaded into ambulances, uttering the word “critical.”
“We must never take for granted the bravery and sacrifices our police officers and first responders make every day,” said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. “My heart is with their families today and the entire State of Minnesota stands with Burnsville.”
The State’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said in a news release that it was asked to investigate the shooting. It said it would provide more information later. The statewide agency provides investigative and other services to help solve crimes, often to back up smaller law enforcement agencies that lack sufficient resources.
Burnsville, a city of around 64,000, is about 15 miles south of downtown Minneapolis.