BURNSVILLE, Minnesota – A tragic incident in a wooded neighborhood near Minneapolis has left two police officers and a firefighter dead after a man, identified as Shannon Gooden, opened fire on police officers who had responded to a domestic disturbance call. Gooden, 38, was not legally allowed to possess firearms due to a previous assault conviction, court records revealed.
The standoff occurred in the affluent suburb of Burnsville, where Gooden had barricaded himself in his home with family members, including seven children aged 2 to 15. The deadly shooting spree also left another officer injured. The incident took place just days before a scheduled district court hearing concerning Gooden’s ongoing custody and financial disputes with the mother of his three oldest children.
Court records showed that Gooden had been convicted of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon in 2008, which resulted in a prohibition on him owning firearms. His legal battles over parenting had become increasingly contentious, with accusations of neglect and abuse being directed at both parties. Noemi Torres, the mother of his three oldest children, claimed that the kids were inside the house during the standoff, and they had been subjected to frightening experiences at the hands of Gooden in the past.
Despite Gooden’s attempts to have his gun rights restored in 2020, prosecutors opposed it, citing his past behavior and threatening statements. He had served five years of probation for the 2007 assault charge and had claimed to have matured and regretted his past decisions. Friends of Gooden had vouched for his character, describing him as a good man who had personally guided them through tough times.
The tragic event in Burnsville has left a community grieving and searching for answers as to how such a devastating outcome came to pass. Amidst the heartbreak, questions remain about how such a situation could escalate to such a tragic end, leaving three brave individuals dead and a community in mourning.