BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is currently investigating how Shannon Gooden, a 38-year-old man with a previous felony assault conviction, was able to obtain multiple guns and a large amount of ammunition, which he used to kill two Burnsville police officers and a paramedic.
Gooden, who had been prohibited from possessing firearms after his 2007 felony assault conviction, had his appeal to have his gun rights restored denied in 2020. Despite including character references from friends, the judge upheld the prohibition, stating that Gooden still could not possess guns.
It was revealed that Gooden’s ex-girlfriend and mother of three of his children, Noemi Torres, had no knowledge of Gooden’s possession of the weapons. Court documents showed that Gooden had been attempting to force Torres to pay more child support, despite his annual income of over $100,000 as an auto painter.
Following Gooden’s death, the judge dismissed the case and granted Torres full custody of their children.
The case sheds light on the issue of individuals with felony convictions attempting to regain their gun rights. It also raises questions about the availability and access to firearms for individuals with a history of violence.
The tragic incident has sparked discussions about the need for stricter regulations and monitoring of individuals who have been convicted of violent crimes, in order to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
This case serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring that individuals with a history of violence do not have access to firearms, in order to protect the safety and well-being of the community.