2 Minnesota cops, paramedic shot dead while responding to domestic abuse call, suspect kills himself

Officers Matthew Ruge, 27, and Paul Elmstrand, 27, and paramedic and firefighter Adam Finseth, 40, were shot dead while they tried to rescue a family from a house in a Burnsville neighbourhood about 15 miles south of Minneapolis in the wee hours of Sunday, February 18. A fourth officer, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the shooting, is being treated.

The shooter, who remains unnamed, also died at the scene. Some reports claimed he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His cause of death has yet to be confirmed.

Authorities were at the scene after receiving a domestic abuse call about a suspect who had barricaded himself inside his home with his family. The family members included a woman and seven children between the ages of 2 and 15. A resident inside the home had placed the call and sought help.