BCA-Rochester Native Adam Finseth Was Shot While Aiding Officers

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St. Paul, MN (KROC-AM News) - The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has released the findings of a preliminary investigation into the murders of two police officers and a paramedic last weekend in Burnsville.

The BCA report says the tragic incident began around 2 AM on Sunday when Burnsville police responded to a home after receiving reports of a domestic incident. Upon arrival, the officers spoke with 38-year-old Shannon Gooden, who refused to leave the residence but claimed he was unarmed and had children inside.

According to the preliminary investigation, the officers then entered the home and negotiated with Gooden for more than three hours in an effort to convince him to surrender peacefully. It was just before 5:30 AM on Sunday that Gooden opened fire on the officers inside the home without warning.

It is believed that Officers Paul Elmstrand, Matthew Ruge, and Adam Medilcott were initially shot inside the home. The BCA says Medilicott and another officer, Daniel Wical, responded by shooting back at Gooden, who was shot in the leg.

The report says Officer Ruge and Medilcott were shot a second time while the officers were exiting the home to an armored vehicle parked in the driveway. The BCA says that's when Burnsville Fire Department paramedic Adam Finseth was shot while trying to aid the wounded officers.

Finseth, Ruge, and Elmstrand were later pronounced dead at the Hennepin County Medical Center. Medilicott survived and is recovering from his wounds.

The BCA preliminary investigation indicates Gooden Gooden continued to fire shots out of the home at officers and the armored vehicle. At one point, Burnsville Police Officer Javier Jimenez used a sniper rifle to shoot at Gooden as he was firing on the officers from an upstairs window.

The BCA says the standoff ended when Gooden took his own life. A SWAT team found his body when it cleared the house at 10:15 AM. An autopsy later determined that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

The state law enforcement agency reported that crime scene personnel recovered several firearms and a large amount of ammunition at the scene. Numerous spent cartridge casings were also recovered. It's estimated that Gooden fired more than 100 rifle rounds at police officers and first responders.

The BCA says there are body camera and squad car camera videos of the incident which are being reviewed by investigators. The BCA's final report will be presented to the Dakota County Attorney's Office for review once it is completed.

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