Burnsville remembers fallen first responders one year later
Burnsville first responder heroes remembered
One year after three Burnsville first responders were killed in a standoff that turned into a shootout, Burnsville leaders are remembering its fallen heroes.
BURNSVILLE, Minn. (FOX 9) - One year after three Burnsville first responders were killed in a standoff turned shootout, the City of Burnsville is remembering its fallen heroes.
Burnsville remembrance
What we know:
The City of Burnsville is remembering police officers Matthew Ruge and Paul Elmstrand, and firefighter-paramedic Adam Finseth on Tuesday. The first responders were killed trying to help seven children in a home with the eventual gunman following a domestic dispute.
City leaders remembered the fallen first responders at a ceremony at Burnsville City Hall on Tuesday.
The city also lit up blue and red starting on Monday and three wreaths have been placed at Burnsville City Hall to remember the fallen first responders.
Honoring Burnsville's fallen first responders
A ceremony was held on Tuesday to honor the three first responders killed during a standoff in Burnsville in February 2024.
Deadly shooting at Burnsville home
The backstory:
The first responders were killed in the early morning hours of Feb. 18, 2024.
Crews were called out to a home on 33rd Avenue South for the report of a sexual assault called in by the gunman's girlfriend. On the call, the girlfriend, Ashley Drydahl, screamed "help me" before the call went dead.
When officers arrived, Drydahl was in the driveway and told first responders seven children were still in the home with the armed man.
Officers tried to negotiate with the gunman, but ultimately he opened fire on the officers in the home. Officer Elmstrand was struck in the head during the first barrage of the gunfire, while Officer Ruge was shot in the vest.
Remembering Burnsville first responders
Feb. 18, 2025, marks a year since the Burnsville first responders were killed. Burnsville is marking the somber day with a Public Safety Memorial Day.
Minutes later, as paramedics tried to help the injured officers, the gunman fired more shots from a window, again striking Ruge and hitting Finseth.
Over the next 13 minutes, the gunman repeatedly fired shots at first responders.
The chaos didn't end until an officer using a sniper rifle spotted the gunman from a window and fired. After being hit, the gunman retreated and then took his own life.
Officers Ruge and Elmstrand and Firefighter-paramedic Finseth were rushed to the hospital where they were pronounced dead.
All the children were eventually rescued from the home.
The other side:
FOX 9 later learned the gunman was ineligible to own a gun due to a prior conviction. Authorities said some of the weapons he had in the home had been straw purchased by his girlfriend Drydahl.
Drydahl later pleaded guilty to straw purchasing firearms.