Today is Tuesday, July 12, 2016, and we’re learning more about the motivation of the Berrien County Courthouse shooter who killed two bailiffs after wrestling a gun away from a sheriff’s deputy in a hallway scuffle.
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Records show a jail inmate who killed two bailiffs at a southwestern MI courthouse was locked up on major felony charges.
Contradicting the statement he gave after the deadly scuffle Monday, Sheriff Paul Bailey said inmate Larry Darnell Gordon had his hands cuffed in front of him.
Bailey said Gordon took hostages for a short period before trying to leave through another door.
Bailey said the deputy and civilian who were shot were taken to the hospital and were expected to survive.
All Cook County courthouses have been placed on heightened security until further notice.
Authorities didn’t mention any connection between the Dallas shootings and events at the Berrien County courthouse, but Snyder said, “This is a particularly tough time for law enforcement so I ask everybody to reach out and be supportive of law enforcement”.
Ron Kienzle worked 25 years at the Benton Township Police Department before retiring as a sergeant.
Both had been employed by the court for more than a decade.
Undated courtesy photo of deputy James Atterberry Jr. who was injured in the Berrien County Courthouse shooting. He also shot a woman in the arm, the sheriff said. He did not identify her.
Washington County Undersheriff Steve Johnson said deputies have been in place for years, providing Washington County Courthouse security.
Bailey said certain details surrounding the shooting remained unclear, including whether the inmate was handcuffed at the time.
She spoke to him on 10 July, the day before the attack, and said she had no idea of his plans. Speaking for all county officers, Bradley said, “Our hearts are torn apart”. “We have lost two very able public servants and we all grieve for them and their families”.
“We make sure that our staff is aware of things like what happened in MI because we believe that keeps them alert that things could happen here”, he said.
She said never would have thought he would do something like this.
The sheriff said not every inmate is escorted into court in handcuffs.
“There were police cars everywhere, ambulances and people just stopping in the road as its happening”, she said. In a Facebook post Monday night, Merri McGregor recalled her first day as a Detroit police officer at age 21 and the next 17 years of “a whole lot of heartache” on the job.
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“Together we can pull through it and hopefully come out strong”.
