Two bailiffs were shot dead during a
scuffle with a prisoner turned gunman inside a southwest Michigan
courthouse on Monday that also wounded two people before police officers
killed the shooter, a county sheriff said.
Larry Darnell Gordon, 44, fatally shot bailiffs identified as
Joseph Zangaro, a retired Michigan state police lieutenant, and Ron
Kienzle, a retired Benton Township police sergeant, the Detroit Free
Press newspaper reported.
The shootings of the bailiffs and the deputy came four days after
four Dallas police officers and a Dallas transit police officer were
killed by a sniper who claimed to be motivated by the use of lethal
force by police against African-Americans.
Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey told a news conference that the
shooting took place at about 2:25 p.m. local time on the third floor of
the St. Joseph, Michigan, courthouse.
Bailey said Gordon was a prisoner who took a gun from one of two
bailiffs escorting him to a courtroom and then began shooting as he
tried to escape from custody. A sheriff's deputy and civilian were also
wounded, he said.
"Our hearts are torn apart. They were our friends," Bailey told reporters. "It's a sad day."
Bailey said the deputy and civilian who were shot were taken to hospital and were expected to survive.
The suspect was shot and killed by police officers, he said.
Chris Gautz, public information officer for the Michigan Department
of Corrections, said on Twitter all Department of Corrections staff
were safe and accounted for.
A witness, Gretta Volkenstein, told CNN that buildings and
government agencies in the area were placed on lockdown as the incident
unfolded.
It was not immediately known why the prisoner was being escorted to the courtroom but Bailey said that was being investigated.
"MSP (Michigan State Police) has secured the scene at the
Berrien County courthouse and started its investigation into the
shooting that occurred this afternoon," Governor Rick Snyder said on Twitter.
Bailey said the courthouse would be closed on Tuesday.
St. Joseph is a town in southwest Michigan, across Lake Michigan from Chicago.
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