The individual suspected in the shooting deaths of two Minnesota police officers and a paramedic during a domestic violence standoff in a Minneapolis suburb was under a lifetime ban from owning firearms at the time of the tragic incident, as per court documents.
Shannon Cortez Gooden, 38 years old, had been prohibited from possessing guns for life following a 2008 conviction for second-degree assault with a deadly weapon in Dakota County, Minnesota. Despite petitioning in 2020 to have his gun rights reinstated, citing a desire to protect himself and his family, his request was denied by a judge on October 9, 2020. The denial came after prosecutors highlighted additional run-ins Gooden had with law enforcement post-conviction, along with two instances of protection orders filed against him for alleged domestic violence and abuse.
Investigations revealed that despite the rejection of his petition, Gooden was armed with multiple firearms when he barricaded himself inside a residence in Burnsville, Minnesota, along with seven children aged between 2 and 15, and other family members.
Gooden reportedly engaged in gunfire with responding officers during the domestic violence incident, resulting in the tragic deaths of Burnsville police officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, as well as Burnsville firefighter and paramedic Adam Finseth. Another officer, Sgt. Adam Medlicott, sustained injuries from the shooting and was hospitalized but has since been discharged.
Subsequently, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner confirmed that Gooden died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The source of the firearms and ammunition used in the attack by Gooden remains under investigation.
The incident, which unfolded around 2 a.m. on a Sunday, involved a confrontation between Gooden and the police officers, leading to the fatal exchange of gunfire that claimed the lives of the first responders.
Lawmakers expressed their concerns following the tragedy, emphasizing the challenges in preventing such violent events despite existing measures such as background checks and red flag laws.
The denied petition by Gooden to regain his gun rights highlighted his efforts to rehabilitate himself since his earlier arrest, citing completion of anger management and parenting courses, stable employment, and academic achievements. However, the judge’s decision to reject the petition was influenced by undisclosed serious allegations against Gooden, including the orders of protection filed against him.
One of the protection orders, filed in July 2020 by a woman involved in the domestic incident, detailed disturbing accusations of threats and violence by Gooden towards her, underscoring the complex and troubling nature of the events leading up to the tragic outcome.