Burnsville, Minnesota – Authorities and neighbors have identified the individual responsible for the tragic deaths of two police officers and an EMT in Burnsville as Shannon Cortez Gooden. Gooden, who took his own life, was revealed by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Court records show that Gooden, a 38-year-old man, was previously convicted of a second-degree felony assault with a deadly weapon in 2008, which had prohibited him from possessing firearms.
Despite the prohibition, Gooden sought to have his firearm rights restored in 2019, citing personal and professional growth since his conviction. However, his request was denied by First District Court Judge Dannia Edwards in October 2020. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is now investigating how Gooden was able to obtain the firearms used in the tragic incident.
On the night of the shooting, Gooden fired at first responders from a second-floor window while barricading himself with his family inside a rented house. The incident unfolded during a domestic situation, with seven children between the ages of 2 and 15 present in the home. Tragically, police officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, along with firefighter/paramedic Adam Finseth, lost their lives during the confrontation.
Court records also revealed a history of domestic incidents involving Gooden, including allegations of assault and abuse by the mothers of his children. The Dakota County Attorney’s Office highlighted these incidents while arguing against restoring Gooden’s firearm rights, pointing to his criminal history and previous convictions for disorderly conduct and assault.
Gooden had worked at LaMettry Collision in Burnsville for over a decade. Following the tragedy, the company expressed shock and sadness over the events, conveying sympathy to the families and colleagues of the fallen first responders. As the investigation into the incident continues, authorities and the community are left grappling with the devastating aftermath of the violence unleashed by Shannon Cortez Gooden.