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Thousands expected at memorial service for three slain Minnesota first responders – The Boston Globe

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Thousands expected at memorial service for three slain Minnesota first responders – The Boston Globe


ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Thousands of law enforcement officers, firefighters and paramedics are expected to pack a Minnesota church on Wednesday for a memorial service for three first responders who were gunned down while responding to a report of a domestic incident at a home with seven children inside.

The Minneapolis suburb of Burnsville has been in mourning in the week and a half since police Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, both 27, and firefighter-paramedic Adam Finseth, 40, were slain. Investigators say Shannon Gooden, 38, opened fire on them without warning during a standoff at his home, then later killed himself.

“On February 18th, our worlds were completely shattered. It was the darkest day in our police and fire department history. And it is still nearly impossible for us to comprehend,” Burnsville Police Chief Tanya Schwartz said at a briefing on service arrangements Monday, as she thanked the community for its outpouring of support.

The service will be at the nondenominational Grace Church in suburban Eden Prairie, one of the largest churches in the Minneapolis area. Because of the overflow crowd expected there, officials have encouraged the public to instead watch the livestream from home or at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Burnsville. The livestream will be viewable on the Grace Church website and its YouTube channel.

A procession of public safety vehicles will head from the Eden Prairie church after the service to Burnsville, where it will pass a fire station, police headquarters and the Burnsville church. Officials encouraged people to line the route to pay their respects.

“So much of this memorial service will be like nothing Minnesota has ever seen,” Minnesota Department of Public Safety spokesperson Howie Padilla told reporters, citing the expected attendance of not only law enforcement officers but firefighters and paramedics as well.

Authorities have made only limited information about the incident public, citing the ongoing investigation.

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According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is leading the investigation, police were dispatched to the home around 1:50 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 18. Gooden refused to leave but said he was unarmed and that he had children inside. Officers entered and negotiated with him for about 3 1/2 hours to try to persuade him to surrender. But just before 5:30 a.m., the BCA says, Gooden opened fire on officers inside without warning.

The BCA said Elmstrand and Ruge, and Sgt. Adam Medlicott, 38, are believed to have been first shot inside the home. Medlicott and another officer, who was not injured, returned fire from inside the home, wounding Gooden in the leg.

Ruge and Medlicott were shot a second time as officers made their way to an armored vehicle in the driveway, according to the BCA. Finseth, who was assigned to the SWAT team, was shot while trying to aid the officers, it said. Elmstrand, Ruge and Finseth were pronounced dead at a hospital. Medlicott survived and is recovering at home.

The BCA said Gooden had “several firearms” and shot more than 100 rounds before killing himself. A court document filed by a BCA agent said the initial 911 call was “regarding an alleged sexual assault allegation.” Authorities have not provided further details about that.

Court records show Gooden wasn’t legally allowed to have guns because of his criminal record and had been entangled in a yearslong dispute over his three oldest children. The children in the house were ages 2 to 15 years.

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250 runners take to the Minnewashta Mud Run

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250 runners take to the Minnewashta Mud Run


On a hot summer day, about 250 people decided that a sprint through the mud was the best way to spend time. 

That’s how many registered for the annual Minnewashta Mud Run on Saturday. Racers of all ages jumped in tubs of mud, made their way through various obstacles, and fired down a massive slip and slide powered by the Chanhassen Fire Department. 

Micah Ostergard, the Recreational Specialist with Carver County Parks, said it’s an event he looks forward to each year. 

“I think one of the great parts of being in this line of work for me is to see the joy that people have when they come out to an event like this,” Ostergard said. 

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The Mud Run, for now, helps to raise money for both Carver County Parks and the Minnetonka school system. Ostergard said that there are conversations in the works to transform it into a formal fundraiser to help underprivileged children access programs that may otherwise be too costly.

Either way, the focus was on fun and getting muddy on Saturday morning. That was 14-year-old Ingrid Boldischar’s goal when she convinced her family, including two younger brothers, to ender the Mud Run. 

“Everyone really likes getting dirty so, it’s just a fun thing!” Boldischar said. 

While she partook in the full course, which amounts to a 5-k for runners that go around twice, younger children enjoyed a smaller version of the run. That included Margot Bennett and Gus Youngstedt, two four-year-old best friends who arrived at the Mud Run on Saturday morning after throwing their first slumber-party together. 

Their parents, Annie Fagerlee and Dani Youngstedt, said they had a wonderful time on Saturday morning. 

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“It’s a designated spot for our kids to get as muddy and wet as possible that’s not in our house,” Fagerlee said. 

David Brandt, a Chanhassen firefighter, was happy to play his part manning the firehouse. He estimated they used up to three thousand gallons to keep the slip and slide going, providing relief from the heat. 

“We come out every summer, cool off the kids, give them some water,” Brandt said. 

While temperatures going above 90 on Saturday afternoon, parents and organizers alike were grateful that the outdoor Mud Run kicked off by about 8:30 in the morning.   

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Minnesota weather: Warm Saturday with hotter days ahead

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Minnesota weather: Warm Saturday with hotter days ahead


Expect a sunny Saturday with heat expected to build up this weekend before an even hotter work week. 

Saturday forecast 

Local perspective:

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Winds stay light out of the south with plenty of sunshine today. 

There are hints of an extremely isolated thundershower, but the chance of that happening over any given area is extremely small.

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Expect highs to peak in the upper 80s with dew points in the mid to upper 60s this afternoon.

Extended forecast

What’s next:

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This forecast is hot. 

Highs will peak in the 90s every day this upcoming week for the Twin Cities and a large portion of the area as well. 

Dew points really don’t look to surge into the 70s but mainly stay in the lower to upper 60s depending on the day of the week. 

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Little to no precipitation forecast this upcoming week. Expect dry and sunny days.

The Source: This story uses information from the FOX 9 weather forecast.  

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How to prepare for extreme heat in Minnesota

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How to prepare for extreme heat in Minnesota


Minnesota’s climate is warming and extreme heat is becoming a bigger health concern. Coming up at 9 a.m. on Monday, MPR News host Angela Davis talks with her guests about how dangerous heat affects our health, who’s most at risk, and how to stay safe.



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