BURNSVILLE, MN — Two police officers and an emergency worker were shot to death in a Twin Cities suburb Sunday morning, and the man who shot them was also killed, authorities said.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Enforcement announced it is leading the investigation. BCA Superintendent Drew Evans said Burnsville police officers were called to a home at 33rd Street South and East 126th Street, just west of the Interstate 35E and Highway 77 interchange, around 1:50 a.m. He said that
The suspect inside was reported to have a weapon, and several people barricaded themselves inside, including seven young children ranging in age from 2 to 15.
Related: Who were the police officers and paramedics who were shot and killed in Burnsville?
city of burnsville
Evans said law enforcement “spent a significant amount of time negotiating with this individual” before the suspect allegedly fired shots at officers.
Burnsville city officials identified the victims as police officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Rouge, and firefighter and EMT Adam Finseth. Sergeant Adam Medlicott, who has borderline personality disorder, was also shot but is expected to survive.
The suspect, who has not been identified, was reported dead around 8 a.m., and the family inside the home soon escaped safely.
Evans said the exact shootout and its timing are not clear at this point in the investigation.
“This is a terrible day for the city of Burnsville and all of our residents,” Evans said.
fallen first responders
Elmstrand, 27, joined the Burnsville Police Department in 2017 and was promoted in 2019, according to the city.
Rouge, also 27, joined the team in 2020.
Finseth, 40, has been a city firefighter and SWAT paramedic since 2019. Finseth previously worked at the Savage and Hastings fire departments, said Fire Chief BJ Jungman.
read more: Five Minnesota police officers have been shot and killed in the line of duty since 2015.
Medlicott has been with BPD for nine years and five months.
Police Chief Tanya Schwartz said the department is “affected.”
“Today, three members of our team made the ultimate sacrifice for this community. They are heroes,” Schwartz said. “We pray every day that they would go home to their families, and today that will not happen. We are heartbroken and need time together. To our families. needs time to grieve.”
Jungmann said Sunday was the toughest day the city has ever experienced.
“It's a tragic day. We're all grieving. We're all trying to understand what happened and why,” Jungmann said.
read more: Five Minnesota police officers have been shot and killed in the line of duty since 2015.
Neighbors talk about the scene
Jason Skog said he started seeing a heavy police and SWAT presence in the Burnsville area around 2 a.m., but things escalated three hours later at 5 a.m.
“I heard a loud explosion and immediately thought it was the sound of a motor exploding like fireworks. But about a minute later I heard another explosion, followed by a series of very rapid gunshots.” said Skog. “That's when I knew right away that something bad was happening.”
Skog didn't know exactly where the gunfire came from, but he knew it was close to his home.
“Shortly after that, I got a call from the police department telling me to take shelter in the basement of my house,” Skog said.
Dylan Folin also lives in the neighborhood. The father of two is reeling from what happened, especially knowing his family had barricaded themselves in their home at the time of the shooting.
“This is a tragedy and I now have to explain to my daughter what happened today. And that's exactly what children think. That's what really hits home for me and the response. My heart goes out to the families of those who lost their lives,” Folin said.
The street was closed to all but law enforcement and homeowners throughout Sunday.
Hundreds of first responders remember victims
Police and first responders from multiple cities gathered Sunday afternoon to show support at Hennepin Healthcare in downtown Minneapolis. Because of its status as a Level 1 trauma center, injured officers are often taken to the hospital.
Related: Hundreds of people line the streets of the Twin Cities to remember three Burnsville first responders.
Their caskets, draped with American flags, were carried into vans outside the hospital as a crowd of law enforcement saluted them.
Doctors, nurses and other hospital staff lined the skyway to see them off. Police, fire trucks and ambulances remained nearby as the van left downtown.
W.C.C.O.
Governor Tim Walz's response
Support and condolences from Minnesota leaders and other law enforcement agencies. flow into social media.
“We must never take for granted the courage and sacrifice that first responders make every day,” Walz said in a statement. “Today, the families of these public servants received a call they knew was a possibility but hoped would never come. My heart is with their grieving families. The state of Minnesota We stand ready to assist in any way we can.This is a tragic loss.''Our state. ”
Walz ordered flags to be flown at half-staff starting at sunrise Monday. A memorial service for the victims is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Burnsville City Hall.
Related: Two police officers and paramedics die in Burnsville, Minnesota; support floods in on social media
