BURNSVILLE, Minn. — The owner of a Burnsville gun store says he is working with the BCA after a firearm recovered from the scene of the shootout that killed three first responders was traced to his business.
John McConkey, owner of The Modern Sportsman, told KARE 11 in an email that an AR-15 "lower receiver" was purchased from an out-of-state online retailer, who shipped it to his shop for transfer to the buyer. McConkey says the person who purchased the weapon passed a background check and took possession of the AR-15 on Jan. 15, 2024.
A lower receiver is the ATF-regulated portion of the AR-15 rifle that is identified by a serial number so it can be traced.
McConkey says that the person who bought the gun and passed the background check is now under investigation for allegedly committing a felony straw purchase, as the weapon ended up in the possession of accused shooter Shannon Gooden.
Gooden was legally prohibited from possessing firearms due to a felony conviction.
"The Modern Sportsman had no way of knowing the lower receiver would end up in a convicted felon’s/prohibited person’s possession," McConkey wrote. "The prohibited person was not there during the transfer process nor was his name on any of the enclosed documents."
McConkey says he is working closely with the BCA to determine how the gun ended up in Gooden's possession, and can't release any more information as the investigation is ongoing.
Minnesota law says a person must have a clean criminal history and a state-issued permit to purchase or obtain an AR-15 lower receiver.
Investigators say Gooden fatally shot two Burnsville police officers and a Burnsville firefighter-paramedic the morning of Feb. 18 after they responded to reports of child abuse going on in his home. At this point, it is unclear whether the weapon processed at The Modern Sportsman was the gun used to kill Paul Elmstrand, Matthew Ruge and Adam Finseth.
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