BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA – The man responsible for the tragic deaths of three first responders in Burnsville, Minnesota, committed suicide during a lengthy standoff, according to the Medical Examiner’s Office.
The Medical Examiner of Hennepin, Dakota, and Scott Counties released a report on Tuesday morning, confirming that 38-year-old Shannon Cortez Gooden died by suicide from a gunshot wound to the head. The incident occurred after Gooden engaged in a standoff with law enforcement, resulting in the deaths of police officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, as well as emergency medical technician Adam Finseth. Fortunately, the seven children inside the home were unharmed.
Court records from Dakota County revealed that Gooden was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a second-degree assault conviction in 2008. Despite being sentenced to probation, which ended in 2013, and having his voting rights restored, the court explicitly stated that Gooden was not entitled to possess firearms for the rest of his life.
In 2020, Gooden made an unsuccessful attempt to have his gun rights reinstated, citing rehabilitation and remorse for his past actions. However, the Dakota County District Attorney’s Office objected to his request, citing additional encounters with the police and a disregard for obeying the law.
Ultimately, Gooden’s petition was denied by District County Judge Dannia Edwards without comment. The attorney who represented Gooden in his efforts to restore his gun rights did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The tragic events surrounding Gooden’s actions underline the complexities and challenges of gun rights restoration, as well as the implications of criminal history on firearm possession and the legal system’s approach to rehabilitation.