A Cottage Grove native and member of the Burnsville Police Department was among police and EMTs shot in a domestic incident Sunday, Feb. 18 at Burnsville.
Sergeant Adam Medlicott with the Burnsville Police was among those responding to a domestic incident call at Kenny Road and Burnsville Parkway East, being shot and sustaining non-life-threatening injuries. He is expected to survive.
Killed in the Sunday morning incident were Burnsville police officers Matthew Ruge and Paul Elmstrand (both 27), along with firefighter and SWAT Paramedic Adam Finseth, age 40. Finseth was giving aid to one of the fallen officers when he was shot.
The Sunday morning shooting at Burnsville took place after officers responded to reports of an armed man barricaded inside a residence with several family members, including seven children. Ages of the children were from 2 to 15. Shots rang out at 5:30 a.m., with the gunman reported dead at 8 a.m., no name being released. The family members were able to escape safely.
With the investigation still ongoing, Gov. Tim Walz ordering flags flown at half-staff beginning Monday at sunrise. The Cottage Grove Police Department was among those to offer their condolences to Burnsville regarding Sunday’s incident.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Burnsville Police and Fire Departments and residents of Burnsville this morning,” it shared. “Multiple first responders were shot resulting in two police officers and a firefighter/paramedic being being killed. Please join us as we send our thoughts and prayers to the Burnsville Police and Fire Departments, their families, and those affected by this tragedy.”
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office also offered condolences for the fallen officers.
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the loss of our partners in Burnsville today,” it said. “No words. Prayers to the families of the fallen, the Burnsville Police Department, and the entire law enforcement community.”
