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An active shooter possibly with homemade explosives and a briefcase, was reported at Allina Health Clinic in Buffalo, Minnesota.
The suspect, who is in custody, was identified as Gregory Ulrich, 67, of Buffalo, Minnesota. You can learn more about him here.
The Wright County sheriff said in a news conference that there were suspicious packages found in the lobby of the medical center and at a nearby Super 8, where Ulrich was believed to be staying. Both were evacuated. He confirmed there were multiple victims. He said that Ulrich acted alone and was known to law enforcement for contacts dating to 2003. Authorities confirmed that five patients were transported to hospitals. Authorities would not reveal whether the shooter said anything to the victims before opening fire but said they weren’t aware of any; they said it didn’t appear to be domestic terrorism. They said it was “most likely” that the incident was “targeted at that facility.”
Dispatch audio described as many as four homemade explosive devices believed to have gone off, but in the news conference authorities said they were still investigating whether devices exploded before they got there.
FacebookGregory Ulrich
In dispatch audio obtained by Heavy.com, and which you can listen to below, an officer also indicated there were multiple victims, saying, “They’re looking at about five injured, critically.” Police have not released the victims’ names or conditions.
A gun and briefcase were found in an office by the front desk. “He should still be sprawled out on his stomach,” police said in the dispatch audio, although it’s not sure who they were referring to. Police said the suspect was in custody, in a squad, and they were calling in the bomb squad to see if there was another device in the entryway.
BCA special agents and crime scene personnel are en route to assist the Buffalo Police Dept. in the investigation of a shooting incident involving multiple victims.
“Is there any more mention of that possible explosive?” an officer said. The response was garbled in the audio. An officer or dispatcher then said that “the male was saying he had four homemade explosive devices; they all went off.”
“We see evidence of that. West glass shattered all across,” an officer responded. Video from television stations showed shattered windows.
“There might be one inside the briefcase by that front office that have not gone off yet,” an officer or dispatcher responded. “We have several victims at the front,” an officer said. “I’ve got four or five with gunshots back here,” said another officer at the scene. A female victim suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
Here’s the archived dispatch audio from the incident. The shooting wasn’t reported for a couple minutes into the audio.
Here’s what you need to know:
The Health Center & Sheriff’s Department Confirmed There Was an Active Shooter at the Clinic; at Least 15 Shots Were Fired, Audio Says
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Authorities released some details, saying the call came in at 10:54 a.m. The sheriff confirmed there were multiple victims and described it as a horrific scene.
“The Wright County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public to stay away from the area of Highway 55 and Willems Way in Buffalo,” Wright County’s Facebook page said. “There has been an active shooter incident at the Allina Health Urgent Care – Buffalo Crossroads clinic. A suspect believed to be the shooter has been taken into custody. The frontage road alongside the Wells Fargo Bank has also been closed to traffic. The Wright County Sheriff’s Office will have a statement that will be released this afternoon.”
The ATF’s St. Paul office wrote on Twitter that it was en route “to a healthcare facility in Buffalo, Minnesota, after reports of an active shooter situation. No further details are available at this time.”
A “man with a gun” was reported at the address, and “shots were fired,” according to the emergency dispatch audio obtained by Heavy.com. A dispatcher said “at least 15 shots were fired…somebody came and started shooting.” Female victims suffered gunshot wounds, including one who was critical and one who had a wound to the abdomen, according to the dispatch audio
Police told CBS Local that they were “responding to a gun incident” at the clinic, which is located at 755 Crossroads Campus Drive.
The television station reported that the center’s representative “confirmed there is an active shooter at the clinic in Buffalo.” That comment was made around 11:30 a.m. on February 9, 2021.
You can find the live scanner feed for the area here.
Early Reports From Other Pages Also Indicated There Might Be as Many as Five Victims
BREAKING: Gunfire at clinic in Wright County leaves several seriously wounded.
Sites that monitor police dispatch audio also wrote on Twitter that there might be as many as five victims, but authorities had not yet officials confirmed this information.
The Minnesota Public Safety Monitoring Page wrote on Twitter, “Wright Co – Possible active shooter. Suspect reported to be detained. Multiple victims reported w/five reported to be critical.”
The page MN Crime wrote, “The shooter is reportedly in custody and authorities say there are at least five confirmed victims at the clinic. Multiple AirCare helicopters are en route to transport the gunshot victims. – The incident was reported to have taken place at the Allina clinic.”
The site added, “Dispatch audio also indicated that homemade explosives were set off at the clinic and a bomb threat was reportedly directed at a Super 8 hotel about a mile south of the clinic, but its relationship to the shooting was not immediately clear.”
This post is being updated as more information is learned. We’ve reached out to Allina Health Center’s PR team for additional details.
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