Month: February 2024

Two police officers and one firefighter were shot and killed in Burnsville, Minnesota, on Sunday after responding to a domestic violence call. According to a statement from the state’s department of public safety, the shooter in the case is also dead.

According to a statement from Gov. Tim Walz on X:  “Horrific news from Burnsville. While responding to a call of a family in danger, two police officers and one firefighter lost their lives, and other officers were injured. We must never take for granted the bravery and sacrifices our police officers and first responders make every day. My heart is with their families today and the entire State of Minnesota stands with Burnsville.” Walz said that other officers were reportedly injured, but details on their conditions were not provided.

The Burnsville Police Department confirmed there was an “active scene” but did not provide additional information. Police have been gathered in the Burnsville neighborhood since early Sunday morning. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said on social media that it was responding to a scene in Burnsville “where there have been reports of officers involved in a domestic-related shooting.”

Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar posted on X that she was informed three officers were shot in Burnsville: “Learned from police this morning that three officers have been shot in Burnsville. They were doing their jobs. They were protecting our community. John and I are praying for them and their families and the Burnsville P.D. this morning.”

Both the city of Golden Valley, located 20 miles north of Burnsville, and the West St. Paul police departments offered condolences on social media. Burnsville is located south of both Minneapolis and St. Paul; according to the city’s website, it’s the ninth largest suburb in the metro area, with more than 64,000 residents.

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Officials in Texas said they have identified a person of interest, but are no closer to finding missing 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham. Authorities said 42-year-old Don Steven McDougal was arrested Friday night on an unrelated charge of aggravated assault, and has since been named as a person of interest in the disappearance after witnesses tied his dark blue 2003 Chevrolet Suburban to the case. The Texas Department of Public Safety are asking for the public’s help in reporting any sightings of the vehicle on Thursday or Friday, issuing a photo of the SUV on X with the vehicle’s license plate clearly visible in the photo.

Meanwhile, the search for Audrii Cunningham resumed Saturday morning, focusing on an area around Lake Livingston, a reservoir in East Texas north of Houston. Audrii’s mother, Cassie Mathews told reporters “I’m being told that they have possibly found her backpack in this area, but no signs of her.”

According to authorities, Audrii was dropped off at her bus stop in Livingston, Texas, Thursday morning but never made it on board. Her family reported her missing at 5:30 p.m. that day, leading to the Amber Alert. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Audrii was last seen near her home was wearing a black hoodie with white lettering, a camo backpack, black pants and black high-top tennis shoes at approximately 7 a.m., on Friday, in the 100 block of Lakeside Drive, in Polk County. PCSO said she should have caught the school bus at her neighborhood bus stop; however, school officials told the Sheriff’s Office the school bus did not pick Audrii up, nor did she report to school.

Authorities were seen searching in a wooded area near the Lake Livingston dam, but investigators – including the non-profit Texas EquuSearch – are also focusing on other areas of interest besides the lake area, without having publicly identified them.

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