Wright County Jail
Update posted at 9:20 a.m. Wednesday:
(KNSI) – Charges could come as soon as Wednesday against the 67-year-old man accused of shooting up a clinic in Buffalo.
Police say just before 11:00 Tuesday morning, Gregory Ulrich walked into the Allina Health Crossroads Clinic and opened fire, killing one person and injuring four others.
Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer said officers walked into “a horrible looking scene,” but the staff immediately began rendering aid to the victims.
Three people remain hospitalized as of Wednesday morning. One person was discharged Tuesday night.
An emotional Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke says Tuesday was a day “no community would want to go through.” He described the initial scene saying they received the report of shots fired at 10:54 a.m. and that several people were injured in the clinic. Police responded to find several victims, with one being described as “critical, if not fatal.”
We did learn later Tuesday afternoon that the person who was airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center had died. Four others were taken to North Memorial in Robbinsdale, where three people remain as of Wednesday morning.
Budke says police had previous contact with the suspect regarding the clinic.
“The history that we have as a department with this individual makes it most likely that this incident was targeted at that facility or at someone within that facility. We’re working now to make sure that we throw a net over anything remaining. We want to retrace his last hours and determine where he was. But at this point because of the contact that we have had with him and his familiarity and a history of conflict, that’s where we base the belief that this was isolated and only directed at that facility or people within that facility.”
He was apparently upset with the care he had been receiving at the clinic, but police didn’t go into further detail.
Police reports say Ulrich had warned of a shooting at that clinic back in 2018 with a doctor saying Ulrich also talked about blowing things up and planning some sort of revenge.
Early reports suggested that a bomb had gone off inside the clinic after the shooting, but police say that’s not correct. They do say there was a suspicious package found in the corner of the lobby, so the Minneapolis bomb squad was called in to investigate. According to police radio traffic, there was “high suspicion” of a bomb threat directed at a Super 8 Motel about a mile away from the scene of the shooting. Suspicious packages were found at the hotel, which was evacuated. Ulrich had reportedly been staying there but was a resident of Buffalo.
Deringer says they have had calls for service regarding Ulrich dating back to 2003, so he was “no stranger to law enforcement.” Deringer didn’t detail those calls for service, but a search of court records shows Ulrich has some drunk driving offenses and drug possession charges against him.
Allina Health issued a statement saying, “Today, our hearts are broken. We are a family at Allina Health and this has been an incredibly traumatic day for our entire organization, the patients we serve, and the community of Buffalo.”
St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis also issued a statement saying, “Yesterday was a tragic day for Minnesota and our friends in the city of Buffalo. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this senseless act. Buffalo is an amazing community – please know we stand with you in this difficult time.”
Update posted at 6 p.m. Tuesday:
(KNSI) – One person is dead after a shooting at a health clinic in Buffalo.
The suspect, 67-year-old Gregory Paul Ulrich of Buffalo, was taken into custody shortly after the shooting at the Allina Health Clinic late Tuesday morning.
Five victims were transported to Twin Cities hospitals with gunshot wounds. One has died. Three are in critical condition but stable. The fifth has been discharged from the hospital.
Authorities confirm that Ulrich had been staying at the Super 8 in Buffalo, where authorities found suspicious devices. A bomb squad was called to the Allina Health Clinic following the shooting after officers spotted a suspicious object in the lobby. In a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Wright County authorities could not confirm if an explosion had happened at the clinic shortly after the shooting.
Wright County records show Ulrich has several previous DWI and drug charges.
Update posted at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday:
(KNSI) – Wright County authorities say a 67-year-old male suspect has been arrested after a shooting that happened Tuesday morning at the Allina Health Clinic along Crossroad Campus Drive in Buffalo.
President of Allina Health Buffalo Hospital Kelly Spratt said five people were transported from the clinic with injuries. Four were taken to North Memorial Health Hospital, and one was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center. Two of the victims had initially been taken to Buffalo Hospital before being transferred to a metro-area hospital. Spratt said he could not provide any information on the conditions of the victims.
Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke said Tuesday afternoon that the suspect, Gregory Paul Ulrich, has lived in Buffalo for several years and local authorities are “familiar” with the suspect. Budke said the incident is not considered to be an act of domestic terrorism, and they believe Ulrich acted alone. Budke said the incident was most likely targeted at the facility or someone within the facility.
“All I can say is that it’s a history that spans several years, and there certainly is a history of him being unhappy … with the healthcare that he received,” Budke said.
Wright County authorities could not confirm if an explosion had happened at the clinic shortly after the shooting. The Minneapolis Bomb Squad’s investigation is continuing.
Jennifer Lewerenz
Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer said Ulrich most recently stayed at the Super 8 Motel in Buffalo, prompting the investigation there.
Ulrich is in custody at the Wright County Jail.
Original story, last updated at 2:35 p.m. Tuesday:
(KNSI) – Authorities are on the scene of a shooting at the Allina Health Clinic along Crossroad Campus Drive in Buffalo. The Wright County Sheriff’s Office says it received the report of shots fired at 10:54 a.m.
About 30 minutes after the shooting, an explosion in Allina’s urgent care clinic was reported.
At least five people are reported to have been injured. The Associated Press reports that multiple victims were transported to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale, according to a spokesperson from that health system.
A single male suspect is in custody in connection to the bombing and the shooting.
Multiple outlets are reporting suspicion of a bomb threat at a Super 8 motel a mile south of the clinic. The Minneapolis Bomb Squad has been called in to investigate. The State Fire Marshal confirms that the bomb squad is investigating reports of possible bombs at “several locations.”
The Minneapolis Bomb Squad is in #Buffalo to investigate reports of possible bombs at several locations. The Minneapolis Bomb Squad in one of the State Emergency Response Teams coordinated by the State Fire Marshal Division. https://t.co/yP0Dyrbb8x
— State Fire Marshal (@MnDPS_SFM) February 9, 2021
However, authorities on scene say the Allina Health Clinic is the only active scene at this time.
Just after noon, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives out of St. Paul said it is responding to the situation. Minnesota State Patrol pilots are transporting blood from the Red Cross to Buffalo Hospital, according to a tweet from the agency.
Wright County authorities confirm that area schools were placed on temporary lockdown as a precaution. The public is asked to remain clear of the area around the Allina Health Clinic.
Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer and Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke are expected to brief the press at 3 p.m.
Governor Tim Walz addressed the situation at 2 p.m.
“At this time it appears like it was a single individual,” Walz said, “and, again, too early to tell motives or reasons why or to be able to discuss it with a little more detail, but our thoughts and prayers and of course our support with [Minnesota] BCA, the Department of Public Safety, with DNR, State Patrol.”
Jennifer Lewerenz
Area Rep. Marion O’Neill has released an official statement on the shooting.
“I have been in contact with Wright County Sheriff Deringer and Buffalo Police Chief Budke offering my support for anything they may need to help our community through this unimaginable tragedy. My friends, my children and grandchildren live and work in Buffalo and while we do not yet know who the injured are, we are all connected. My heart breaks for these victims, their families and our community.”
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to KNSI for updates. Last update posted at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday.
Jennifer Lewerenz contributed to this report.
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