BCA Officials Unveil Timeline of Events Leading to Fatal Shooting

(KNSI) — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says the suspect accused of shooting at police and killing three first responders Sunday morning fired more than 100 rounds during the attack after saying he was in the house unarmed.

In the first detailed update on the case, BCA officials say police responded to a call at the home just before 2:00 a.m. February 18th for a domestic disturbance and made contact with the suspect, 38-year-old Shannon Gooden. Gooden refused to come out and said he had kids with him, but he was unarmed. Police entered the home and negotiated with Gooden for three and a half hours to try to get him to surrender. At about 5:26 a.m., Gooden suddenly opened fire, shooting officers Paul Elmstrand, Matthew Ruge, and Sergeant Adam Medlicott. Medlicott and another officer returned fire, shooting Gooden in the leg. Ruge and Medlicott were shot again as they were retreating from the house and heading for an armored vehicle parked in the driveway. The BCA says firefighter paramedic Adam Fineth, who is part of the SWAT team, was shot while administering first aid to the officers. Finseth, Elmstrand and Ruge were all rushed to Hennepin County Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead just over an hour later.

Gooden continued to fire at police and the armored vehicle, which was occupied. As he was shooting out a second story window, another officer fired with his sniper rifle. Gooden retreated to a bedroom where he was later found dead of an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Investigators discovered his body while clearing the house at 10:15 a.m.

Several firearms and a large amount of ammunition were also found at the scene. Gooden fired more than 100 rounds during the incident, which was captured on body cam and dash cam.

The investigation is still ongoing, including how Gooden got the guns he used, as he was prohibited from owning a firearm.

A public memorial to honor the three is set for February 28th at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Church in Eden Prairie.

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