Burnsville police officers who opened fired on Shannon Gooden in February were legally justified in their use of force, the Dakota County attorney announced Tuesday.

A 10-page memo from County Attorney Kathy Keena about her review of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigation provides more information about what happened on Feb. 18 when Gooden fatally shot Burnsville Police Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge and Burnsville Firefighter/Paramedic Adam Finseth when they responded Feb. 18 to a domestic incident.

Three Burnsville officers fired their guns during the incident, and one wounded Gooden in the leg.

“There is absolutely no doubt the officers were justified in using deadly force to protect themselves, other officers and first responders, and members of the public from death or great bodily harm,” Keena wrote.

Gooden later shot himself and died by suicide, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Elmstrand, Ruge and Finseth “embodied the spirit of a public servant as they selflessly acted to protect seven children from the hands of Shannon Gooden,” Keena said in a statement.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

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