“I mean, it could’ve been way worse than what it is”, said his uncle Robert Atterberry. She says he was probably afraid of going to prison and just wanted to get home “to our baby girl and me”.
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Fowler said the last time he recalled a law enforcement officer being killed in the line of duty in Berrien County was in 1984 when Michigan State Trooper Robert Mihalik was killed during a traffic stop in Shoreham, just south of St. Joseph.
Bailey identified the bailiffs killed as Joseph Zangaro, 61, and Ronald Kienzle, 63. He said they were “close friends” of his. Zangaro was a retired Michigan State Police Trooper and head of the court house security. The former U.S. Army veteran was recognized in 2002 as officer of the year by the Benton Harbor-St.
At the time of the shooting, a report via woodtv told how a sheriff was escorting Larry Gordon, who’s been indicted on a series of charges including, sexual assault, kidnapping and domestic violence when he overpowered the deputy and took his gun before firing off shots.
Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey speaking to media.
During the press conference Tuesday morning, Bailey said inmates are moved every day and the bailiffs and deputies are very well trained.
The sheriff says authorities had “no warning signs” that the suspect would be violent.
During the struggle, Bailey said Gordon took hostages for a short period before trying to leave through another door. He was killed by other officers. He said the civilian was a woman who also suffered an arm injury. “The two other bailiffs that were there and that neutralized the guy not only saw their fellow bailiffs die, but they also shot and killed a guy”.
The sheriff’s deputy and injured civilian are in stable condition at Lakeland Regional Hospital, Bailey said. No names have been released.
Speaking for all county officers, Bradley said, “Our hearts are torn apart”. “This is a awful event to have happened”, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder said.
People from the neighborhood gathered outside the perimeter of the building, which sits atop a ridge overlooking Lake Michigan in the heart of downtown St. Joseph.
Bailey said two bailiffs usually transport inmates between their holding cells and the courtrooms.
“After further investigation from the crime scene techs, the suspect in this incident was handcuffed in the front”, Bailey said.
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Berrien County officials will be offering grief counseling at the Administration Center on Main Street for any employee that needs it. Berrien County sits on the southwestern corner of MI, at the IN border.
