Burnsville, Minnesota – The girlfriend of a man who fatally shot three first responders in February has been indicted for allegedly purchasing multiple guns for a felon in what is known as “straw purchases.” Authorities revealed that two of the firearms bought by the woman were used in the attack that resulted in the deaths of two police officers and a firefighter/paramedic.
Ashley Anne Dyrdahl, 35, is accused of conspiring with the shooter, Shannon Cortez Gooden, by getting guns for him between September 2023 and January 2024. Gooden, with a prior felony conviction for second-degree assault in 2008 which prohibited him from owning guns, allegedly used these firearms in the fatal incident.
In a disturbing turn of events, it was disclosed that Dyrdahl was aware of Gooden’s criminal record and even supported his petition to regain firearm rights in 2020. Text messages supposedly showed her purchasing guns at his direction, falsifying information on forms to hide the transfer to a felon.
Among the firearms allegedly bought by Dyrdahl for Gooden were semiautomatic pistols and AR-15-style lower-receivers equipped with a binary trigger, which increases the rate of fire. These weapons were reportedly loaded with .300 Blackout ammunition, known for its lethal potential.
Just days before the tragic shooting, Gooden and Dyrdahl exchanged texts expressing their satisfaction with the firearms. The indictment detailed how Gooden used the guns provided by Dyrdahl to carry out the ambush on the first responders, resulting in a fierce exchange of gunfire that left a trail of devastation behind.
Following the violent incident, a search of the couple’s bedroom uncovered a stockpile of loaded magazines and hundreds of rounds of additional ammunition. Dyrdahl now faces charges of conspiracy, illegal straw purchasing, and making false statements during firearm transactions in connection to the tragic event that shook the Burnsville community.
This case sheds light on the dangers of individuals circumventing gun laws and the devastating consequences that can ensue when firearms end up in the wrong hands. The chilling texts exchanged by the couple before the shooting serve as a stark reminder of the tragic chain of events that unfolded, claiming the lives of three dedicated first responders.