Federal authorities revealed on Thursday that a woman’s unlawful purchasing activities had enabled a man to acquire high-powered firearms. Tragically, these firearms were later used by the man to kill three first responders in Minnesota during a tense standoff at a residence where seven children were present.
During a press conference, U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger revealed that Ashley Anne Dyrdahl, a 35-year-old resident of Burnsville, had conspired with Gooden to unlawfully provide him with firearms. Despite being aware of Gooden’s status as a convicted felon, which rendered him ineligible to possess firearms legally, Dyrdahl facilitated his access to them.
According to Luger, the woman who was described as Gooden’s “long-time live-in partner” has engaged in an “illegal buying spree” for Gooden. Luger strongly believes that this behavior showcases a complete disregard for public safety and the law. The consequences of such actions are truly unfathomable.
Dyrdahl faces serious charges for his involvement in a conspiracy and making false statements while purchasing a firearm. According to Luger, the indictment includes one count of conspiracy and five counts of making false statements. If convicted, Dyrdahl could face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
Jessica Dyrdahl is scheduled to make her initial appearance in federal court on Thursday afternoon. However, she is not currently in custody, and prosecutors do not intend to request her detention. Katherian Roe, the chief federal defender for Minnesota, stated that Dyrdahl would be provided with a duty attorney at her first appearance. Roe also mentioned that her office would likely determine whether to represent Dyrdahl for future proceedings by Friday. Although a phone number associated with Dyrdahl is no longer active, a message was left with a man believed to be her father.
Three brave individuals lost their lives on February 18 during a standoff in Burnsville, a Minneapolis suburb. Police Officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, both 27, and firefighter-paramedic Adam Finseth, 40, made the ultimate sacrifice. Their memorial service, held two weeks ago, brought together thousands of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and paramedics to pay their respects. Despite being shot while caring for the injured, Sgt. Adam Medlicott, 38, managed to survive.
According to Luger, Dyrdahl purchased a total of five firearms for Gooden from licensed dealers. These weapons, which included AR-style rifles and Glock semiautomatic pistols, were ultimately used to harm the three first responders. Notably, one of the rifles was equipped with a “binary” trigger, effectively doubling its rate of fire.
According to the indictment, she repeatedly went to gun stores under Gooden’s guidance and acquired the specific firearms he requested between September and January. This includes the two AR-style rifles that were later used in the shootings. The indictment states that she signed forms falsely declaring that she had no intention of transferring the guns to a felon.
According to court records, it was revealed that Gooden had a 2007 felony assault conviction, which made him ineligible to possess any firearms legally. Additionally, he had been involved in a lengthy dispute concerning his three eldest children. It is worth noting that the children present in the house ranged from 2 to 15 years of age.
Dyrdahl, in the indictment, warned Gooden through a text message about the unlawful purchases, emphasizing the importance of being cautious and smart in their actions.
She asked him in a second exchange last September if he liked the new Glock 47 9mm semiautomatic pistol she had recently purchased for him.
According to Luger, he sent her a video where he loaded the Glock 47 with an extended magazine. In response, she replied with a smiling heart emoji.
Dyrdahl’s awareness of Gooden’s inability to possess firearms legally was highlighted by Luger and others, who referred to a letter she had written on his behalf during his unsuccessful attempt to regain his gun rights in 2020. In the letter, she emphasized the importance of family to Gooden and his desire to protect his home. However, Dakota County Attorney Kathryn Keena pointed out that it was the children who truly needed protection.
The complete details of what exactly transpired and the reasons behind it are still uncertain. Drew Evans, the superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is in charge of the investigation, mentioned that a comprehensive report on the case will be disclosed once the investigation concludes.
According to John McConkey, a gun store owner in Burnsville, he informed reporters that a firearm found at the scene was linked back to his store. The purchaser of the firearm had successfully passed the background check and acquired it on January 5th. McConkey stated that authorities informed him that the individual who collected the firearm was being investigated for a felony straw purchase, and that Gooden was not present during the transaction. The indictment claims that Dyrdahl was the actual buyer or recipient of four out of the five guns from the store.
Gooden’s former girlfriend, Noemi Torres, revealed recently that she had provided testimony before a federal grand jury that was conducting an investigation into the case. In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Torres shared that she was questioned about her relationship with Gooden and whether he had forced her to purchase a firearm for him. She stated that she informed the grand jury that she would not have complied with such a request due to her fear for her own life, given their history of domestic abuse.
