Two Minnesota police officers and a paramedic were killed Sunday morning while responding to a domestic incident at a home, according to local reports.
The fatal shooting happened at a residence in Burnsville, where law enforcement and emergency vehicles were seen near the 12600 block of 33rd Avenue South, FOX9 Minneapolis reported. Several children were reportedly inside the home at the time.
Please pray for family and friends of the two Burnsville (Minnesota) police officers and medic killed this morning đđźđđź
And for the officers still on scene; for their safety đđźđđź
No words other than…pray pic.twitter.com/gpom3WQYbZ
— Glendale Arizona FOP Lodge 12 (@GlendaleFOP12) February 18, 2024
“We received horrific news from Burnsville this morning. While responding to a call of a family in danger, two police officers and one firefighter lost their lives, and other officers were injured,â Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said in a statement.
âWe must never take for granted the bravery and sacrifices our first responders make daily. Today, the families of these public servants received the call they knew was possible but hoped would never come. My heart is with those grieving families, and the State of Minnesota stands ready to support in any way we can,â he added.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was investigating the shooting and said more details would be released upon completion of a preliminary investigation. A briefing was scheduled for later in the day.
The city of Burnsville released a statement identifying those killed as officers Paul Elmstrand, 27, and Matthew Ruge, 27, as well as Adam Finseth, 40, who worked as a firefighter and paramedic. Another officer, Adam Medlicott, was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to reports, police were called to a residence at 1:50 a.m. local time Sunday morning over a report that an armed man was barricaded inside with family members.
“At approximately 8 a.m., the suspect was reported to be dead. Later in the morning, the other family members left the home safely. There is no ongoing threat,â the city statement said.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar previously posted on X that she was informed three officers were shot in Burnsville.
âLearned from police this morning that three officers have been shot in Burnsville while they were doing their jobs. They were protecting our community. John and I are praying for them and their families and the Burnsville P.D. this morning,â Klobuchar wrote.
