By Brenda Erdahl
Gregory Paul Ulrich, 67, of Buffalo is in custody for firing a weapon at the Crossroads Campus Allina Medical Clinic in Buffalo Tuesday morning, Feb. 9, injuring at least five people, officials stated at an afternoon press conference.
Officers received a 911 call from the clinic at 10:54 a.m. stating shots had been fired. Upon arrival responders saw that multiple people had been injured. Ulrich was quickly taken into custody. Four victims were transported to North Memorial Hospital and one to the Hennepin County Medical Center. Two of those patients were taken to the Buffalo Hospital before being moved. Their conditions are unknown at this time.
According to Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer, the clinic was evacuated then a secondary search was conducted of the building and that’s when a suspicious package was found in the corner of the lobby. Ulrich had been staying at the Super 8 Hotel in Buffalo which was also evacuated. Upon searching the hotel, additional suspicious devices were found, Deringer said. Bomb Squads from the Metro were called in to help clear the buildings. According to Deringer, Ulrich is believed to have acted alone. Both the City Police Department and the Sheriff’s Department have had numerous run-ins with Ulrich dating back to 2003 which leads them to believe this was not an act of terrorism. Ulrich had reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with health care he received at the clinic in the past and was likely targeting that facility in particular, or someone at that facility. That being said, Ulrich had given no indication during his encounters with police that he would take such action, Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke said. Officials emphasized Tuesday that it is still very early in the investigation and more information will be disclosed in the coming days.
“Our hearts are breaking today,” Chief Budke said at the start of Tuesday’s press conference and Sheriff Deringer later echoed those words.