UPDATE (5:24 p.m. ET):
By Police1/FireRescue1/EMS1 staff
BURNSVILLE, Minn. — Burnsville city officials have identified the two police officers and paramedic who were shot and killed in Burnsville Sunday morning. WCCO identified the victims as Officers Paul Elmstrand, 27; and Matthew Ruge, 27; and Firefighter/Paramedic Adam Finseth, 40.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension reported the shooter was also dead and it is investigating the incident.
The first responders were called to a home for reports of an armed man barricaded with family members. The situation escalated into gunfire, WCCO reported, and Elmstrand, Ruge and Finseth were killed, and another police officer was injured, but is expected to survive.
Finseth was providing aid to an injured officer when he was fatally shot, police said. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said during a news conference on Sunday that Finseth was a part of a SWAT team that had been called to a domestic situation.
The suspect was reported dead and the family members were safely evacuated.
The city reported Elmstrand joined the Burnsville Police Department in 2017 and was promoted in 2019, while Ruge joined the force in 2020. Finseth has been a firefighter/paramedic with the city since 2019.
EARLIER:
By Nick Ferraro, Kristi Miller
Pioneer Press
BURNSVILLE, Minn. — Law enforcement sources tell the Pioneer Press that three Burnsville officers were shot — two fatally — and a medic was also killed this morning in Burnsville.
A city spokesperson confirmed an incident happened this morning in the 12000 block of 33rd Avenue S., but was not yet willing to share details. The law enforcement source says that police were called to a residence on a domestic incident when shots were fired.
Officers massed near 33rd Avenue and East Burnsville Parkway about 5:30 a.m., a witness told KSTP. The witness heard shots fired and said a shelter-in-place order was then transmitted to mobile devices, according to the station.
A city spokesperson anticipates a news conference will be held in the coming hours.
A massive law enforcement presence was at the scene Sunday, including personnel from the Dakota and Hennepin county sheriff’s offices along with the Savage, Bloomington, Eagan, Lakeville and Rosemount police departments.
A SWAT vehicle had multiple bullet holes visible on its windshield, WCCO reports.
At Hennepin Healthcare in downtown Minneapolis, police and first responders from multiple cities were gathered to show support, according to WCCO.
Meanwhile, Minnesota politicians and law-enforcement agencies flooded social media with condolences:
“Learned from police this morning that three officers have been shot in Burnsville,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar said on X. “They were doing their jobs. They were protecting our community.”
The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association posted on X, “We are heartbroken. Our law enforcement community is heartbroken. We’re just devastated at the horrific loss. These heroes leave behind loved ones and a community who will forever remember their bravery and dedication keeping Minnesotans safe.”
We are heartbroken. Our law enforcement community is heartbroken. We’re just devastated at the horrific loss. These heroes leave behind loved ones and a community who will forever remember their bravery and dedication to keeping Minnesotans safe.
— Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association (@MNPoliceAssn) February 18, 2024
This is a developing story and will be updated as officials release more information.
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