Friends Identify Woman Killed In Allina Health Shooting As 37-Year-Old Lindsay Overbay

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Minnesota community continues to come to grips after a deadly shooting at a health clinic. One person has died from their injuries after the shooting Tuesday morning at the Allina health clinic in Buffalo.

Friends of the victim who died have identified her to WCCO as 37-year-old Lindsay Overbay. A GoFundMe has been set up to help a now single father take care of the children she leaves behind, with a set goal of $50,000

She was a medical assistant at the clinic and the mother of two young kids, a boy and a girl. Her best friend told WCCO she's worked at the clinic for a couple years after moving up to Buffalo from New Ulm, where she grew up.

Naiya Stubbe says another friend texted her after news of the shooting broke.

"There was a screenshot of a shooting and she was like, 'Doesn't Lindsay work there?' And, yes it is crazy. And I texted Lindsay and I said, 'Are you OK?' And she never responded, which is not like her," Naiya Stubbe said. "We talk almost everyday and she responds very quickly."

As it turned out the two best friends, who met in 2004 while in school in St. Cloud, had shared their last conversation. Overbay, who had devoted her life to healing others, had been hurt.

She did not survive.

"I just don't understand it. I don't understand what this person ... I don't understand. She just went to work," Stubbe said. "All she's ever wanted to do is help people. All she's ever done is take care of people."

Overbay loved her job, Stubbe said, and she loved her time at home.

"She was great mother, daughter, friend. Her passing is going to affect so many people. I want everyone to know she's very loved, loving person, cares about everybody," Stubbe said.

Overbay's children spent last night with Stubbe. Now she and the victim's family will work hard to help those children in honor of the woman who helped so many others.

"It's just really important that these kids are taken care of. They got a long road ahead of them," Stubbe said.

Overbay's family also sent out a statement. They say they are incredibly thankful for the staff at HCMC who helped her, and they are asking for privacy.

Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday that all flags at state and federal buildings will be flown at half-staff until sunset on Sunday in honor of the Buffalo victims. Four other people were hurt and taken to North Memorial Health hospital in Robbinsdale. One was discharged Tuesday, while the other three are respectively in critical, fair and good condition as of Wednesday evening.

The suspected gunman is in jail. Investigators say 67-year-old Gregory Ulrich was the man responsible for the shootings.

The Wright County Attorney's Office said Wednesday they are drafting a criminal complaint that will charge Ulrich of second-degree intentional murder, four counts of attempted first-degree premeditated murder, and possession of explosive or incendiary devices.

Police in Buffalo say they've encountered Gregory Ulrich over and over for nearly two decades. Police noted he had a history of being unhappy with the health care he received.

Ulrich's criminal history in Wright County shows he's been convicted of DWI three times. And WCCO has learned police suggested Zion Lutheran Church get a restraining order against Ulrich after he sent a threatening letter. The church reports no contact with him before or after.

Allina Health released a statement early Wednesday evening about Overbay's passing:

Yesterday, Allina Health joined a tragically long list of organizations who have suffered a workplace shooting. We are devastated. With overwhelming sadness, we can confirm that Lindsay Overbay lost her life to this senseless act of violence. Lindsay was a medical assistant who worked for Allina Health since November of 2018. The loss of Lindsay is traumatic for all who knew and loved her. Our entire Allina Health family extends our deepest sympathies to her family, friends and co-workers. In total, five of our colleagues were victims in the attack. Sherry Curtis, a Licensed Practical Nurse at Allina Health since 2013 was also injured in the attack. We will not be identifying the other victims at this time out of respect for the families' wishes.

Our primary focus is on supporting our employees, patients and the community of Buffalo. Our response teams have pulled together to provide support to our staff in Buffalo, including resources for the victims and their families, grief counseling and spiritual care for staff. We have also consulted with Allina mental health experts and taken their counsel into account as we continue to do everything we can for our colleagues. Even though this appears to be an isolated incident, we have taken the extra precaution of increasing security in our facilities. We are working closely with law enforcement who are providing additional support to ensure the safety of our teams and patients.