Girlfriend of Burnsville man who fatally shot 3 first responders indicted for straw purchasing firearms

The girlfriend of the man who fatally shot Burnsville first responders last month has been indicted for straw purchasing multiple firearms for him, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Minnesota announced Thursday.

Burnsville police officers Matthew Ruge and Paul Elmstrand and Burnsville firefighter/paramedic Adam Finseth were fatally shot in the line of duty on Feb. 18. Shannon Gooden, who authorities have said was the gunman, died by suicide.

Gooden had a lifetime ban on possessing firearms after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to assault with a dangerous weapon.

Ashley Anne Drydahl, 35, has been indicted for straw purchasing multiple firearms for a felon, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Burnsville police were dispatched to the 12600 block of 33rd Avenue South at about 1:50 a.m. Feb. 18 “regarding an alleged sexual assault,” a Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent wrote in an application for a search warrant.

Police who responded to the home spoke with Gooden, 38, who wouldn’t leave the residence but said he was unarmed. He said he had children inside. Five were his and two are his girlfriend’s children.

Officers went inside and negotiated with Gooden for about three and a half hours, trying to get him to surrender peacefully, but he opened fire at 5:26 a.m. on the officers inside the home “without warning,” according to the BCA.

Gooden continued to fire shots out of the home at officers and an armored vehicle, which had personnel inside. He shot more than 100 rifle rounds at law enforcement and first responders, the BCA has said.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.

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