1 dead, 4 injured in Allina Health clinic shooting in Buffalo, Minnesota, suspect in custody
BUFFALO, Minn. (FOX 9) - Four people were injured and another died after a man, who was later arrested, opened fire at the Allina Health clinic in Buffalo, Minnesota Tuesday.
As of Wednesday morning, one patient remains in critical condition at North Memorial, while the other two are listed in "fair" condition at North Memorial. Another was released from North Memorial Tuesday.
The patient who was flown to Hennepin Healthcare later died.
The Wright County Sheriff’s Office said shortly before 11 a.m., dispatch received a call of shots fired at the Buffalo Crossroads clinic at 755 Crossroads Campus Drive on the Buffalo Hospital campus. Buffalo is approximately 40 miles northwest of Minneapolis.
Law enforcement responded to the scene and evacuated the clinic and located multiple victims as well as the suspect, who was taken into custody. Five victims were taken to area hospitals—four to North Memorial and one to Hennepin Healthcare.
Law enforcement also found a suspicious package in the corner of the lobby, according to Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer. The Minneapolis Police Department’s bomb squad was called to the scene. The FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are also investigating.
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Suspect was known to law enforcement
The suspect has been identified as Gregory Paul Ulrich, 67, of Buffalo. Authorities believe Ulrich acted alone and are not looking for any additional suspects.
Officials said Ulrich has lived in the community for a long time and was known to local police from prior calls dating back to 2003.
"There is no information at this point that leads us to believe there is any nexus with any type of domestic terrorism," Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke said. "We are very familiar with the suspect."
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Due to Ulrich’s past and "history of conflict," Budke said authorities believe Tuesday’s attack was targeted at the clinic or someone within the clinic.
Suspicious devices found at Super 8 motel
Sheriff Deringer said additional suspicious devices were also found at the Super 8 motel in Buffalo, where Ulrich was believed to have been staying most recently.
The motel was evacuated. The MPD bomb squad and federal investigators also responded to that scene.
Nearby schools placed on lockdown, after-school activities canceled
Schools in the area were placed on temporary lockdown following the incident as a precautionary measure.
Students from the two schools closest to the clinic, Tatanka Elementary STEM School and PRIDE Transitions, were evacuated to Buffalo High School, according to the Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose School District.
Due to the situation, the district canceled after-school and evening activities for Tuesday, including community education classes and programs. The after-school child care program, KidKare, will remain open until 6:30 p.m.
The Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose School District said its schools would be open as scheduled Wednesday, with staff in place to work with students who need help processing Tuesday's incident.
The district also provided resources to families for how to talk to children about traumatic situations. You can find those here and here.
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