A MI sheriff says all indications are that the inmate who fatally shot two bailiffs at a courthouse was trying to break out of custody.
Advertisement
When the shooting broke out, the people inside the courthouse “went for shelter”, Bailey said, “and other fearless officers were able to come to the rescue and take the shooter down”.
“Our hearts are torn apart”, Bailey said.
During the incident, Bailey said Gordon took hostages for a short period before trying to leave through another door. Michigan Republican Representative Fred Upton had this to say in a brief statement about the Michigan courthouse shooting.
Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey is giving more details to reporters Monday night, hours after two bailiffs were killed by an inmate who wrested a gun from an officer.
Bailey said the civilian and the sheriff’s deputy suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Members of the public “went for shelter once the shooting occurred and courageous officers were able to come to the rescue and bring the shooter down”, Bailey said at a news conference on Monday afternoon. The Berrien County Sheriff Office is yet to release the names of the victims and the gunman. Authorities didn’t mention any connection to the those killings, but Gov. Rick Snyder said, “This is a particularly tough time for law enforcement so I ask everybody to reach out and be supportive of law enforcement”.
Zangaro was head of courthouse security and had been employed with the Berrien County Trial Court since May of 2004 after retiring from the Michigan State Police as commander of its Bridgman Post.
“That inmate was able to disarm one of the officers”, he said. The inmate then was fatally shot “by two other bailiffs who came to render aid, along with several other officers”, Bailey said.
Support for the victims of Monday’s courthouse shootings in St. Joseph is pouring in from all over the country. The Michigan deputy sheriff was taken to a hospital in the far western corner of Berrien County.
Advertisement
A sheriff says two bailiffs and a gunman are dead at a western MI courthouse where a shooting happened.
