Three first responders were shot to death in Burnsville.
Minnesota is mourning Sunday after two Burnsville police officers and a city firefighter-paramedic were fatally shot while responding to a report of an armed suspect barricaded inside a home with seven young children.
The Burnsville police officers have been identified as Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge. The firefighter medic has been identified as Adam Finseth.
Listen to the police radio traffic on this incident.
Tragedy struck as two Burnsville police officers and a paramedic lost their lives after a suspect engaged in a shootout with officers during a standoff at a residence on the 12600 block of 33rd Avenue. The standoff, which began around 2:30 a.m., escalated when the suspect, wanted for second-degree criminal sexual conduct, opened fire on officers responding to a domestic situation call.
Negotiations were attempted, but the suspect, reportedly armed with multiple firearms, refused to release seven children from the home. Eventually, officers decided to enter the residence. Upon entry, they encountered the suspect in a hallway wielding a rifle, leading to a deadly exchange of gunfire that claimed the lives of at least two officers and a paramedic.
Subsequent investigation revealed that the suspect was found deceased inside the home, having succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The incident left a profound impact on the community, with a significant law enforcement presence remaining at the scene on Sunday as investigations continued into the tragic events that unfolded in Burnsville.