Hundreds gather for vigil after 2 police officers, paramedic killed in Burnsville
Flags at half-staff across Minnesota; investigation into shooting continues
Flags are flying at half staff across Minnesota on Monday as the investigation continues into Sunday’s shooting in Burnsville that left two police officers and a firefighter-paramedic dead.
Hundreds of people gathered Sunday evening for a vigil outside Burnsville City Hall, to honor officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, and firefighter Adam Finseth.
“My heart just broke. There are no words. What do you say? I mean, we’ve said it so many times — our heart and our prayers and our sorrows go out to these people, and it’s just devastating,” said Jessica Gerardy, who lives in Apple Valley and attended the vigil to show her support.
Terese Trekell also attended the vigil. She’s been a teacher at Gideon Pond Elementary in Burnsville for 22 years, and noted how children in the community will have heard about the shooting.
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“We’ll have the responsibility to teach and try to help them make some sense of what has happened, when we ourselves can’t find any sense in it,” she said.
The gunfire Sunday morning also injured another officer, Sgt. Adam Medlicott. It happened while officers responded to a call for help about a man armed and barricaded in a home with seven children inside.
Officials said Sunday that the shooter is dead, and that there was no ongoing threat. They didn’t say how he died. The man’s name is expected to be disclosed following an autopsy planned for Monday. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating.
The children in the home, ages 2 to 15, were not physically harmed.
Burnsville city officials on Sunday spoke of the men who died as heroes dedicated to their communities and to keeping people safe.
“Our police officers and our fire-paramedics — they come to work every day. They do it willingly. They know they might have to give up their life for their partners, for someone else. They know they have to give up their life sometimes, and they do it anyways,” Tanya Schwartz, Burnsville’s police chief, told reporters at a Sunday afternoon news conference.
The city of Burnsville said plans are still in the works for an official fundraising effort to support the families of the fallen first responders.
Officials cautioned the public Sunday night that “some people are taking advantage of our tragedy in Burnsville. Be aware of scams.” They said information on official, legitimate fundraisers will be shared later this week on the city’s website.
MPR News reporters Sarah Thamer, Peter Cox, Cari Spencer, Nicole Ki and Matt Sepic contributed to this report.