BURNSVILLE, Minn. — The woman charged with illegally buying the guns used in the killings of three first responders in February has indicated she will change her plea to guilty.
Burnsville officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, both 27, and firefighter-paramedic Adam Finseth, 40, were killed in the Feb. 18 standoff. Authorities said 38-year-old Shannon Gooden opened fire without warning, and then later killed himself.
Federal authorities accused Ashley Anne Dyrdahl, Gooden's long-time girlfriend, of conspiring with him to buy guns, despite Gooden being banned from owning a weapon due to a past felony conviction.
Dyrdahl is charged with one count of conspiracy, five counts of straw purchasing, and five counts of making false statements during the purchase of a firearm. She pleaded not guilty in March.
"Ashley Dyrdahl didn't shoot anybody, make no mistake," said Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, in March. "But Ashley Dyrdahl handed him (Gooden) the guns, and for this, she must be held accountable."
A change-of-plea hearing for Dyrdahl is scheduled for Dec. 18.