ST. JOSEPH, Mich. (WOOD) – Two bailiffs and an inmate were killed, and a deputy was injured in a shooting at the Berrien County Courthouse Monday afternoon, sheriff’s authorities said.
The bailiffs killed have been identified as Joe Zangaro and Ron Kienzle. The shooter has been identified as Larry Darnell Gordon.
A prisoner was being moved at western Michigan courthouse when he disarmed an officer and shot and killed two bailiffs Monday before officers killed the gunman, a sheriff said.
The shooting happened just before 2:30 p.m. at the courthouse on Port Street in downtown St. Joseph.
Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey said at a news conference that a deputy sheriff and a civilian were also shot and wounded.
A Berrien County commissioner confirmed to 24 Hour News 8 that the suspect in the shooting of the bailiffs and deputy was the inmate who was killed. Berrien Co. Sheriff Paul Bailey said it wasn’t clear how the suspect obtained a gun.
Bailey said the inmate was being moved from a holding cell at the Berrien County Courthouse in St. Joseph when a “fight occurred.”
He said the man was able to disarm an officer. He said the inmate got hold of the gun and started shooting.
Some “brave officers” were able to take down the shooter, Bailey said during a news conference Monday afternoon. Further details in the shooting weren’t released.
The surviving deputy is undergoing treatment at the ER and is in stable condition, Bailey said. Several other people are also being treated and are reportedly in stable condition.
Berrien County, which borders Indiana, is in the far southwestern corner of Michigan.The Associated Press contributed to this report.Tweets by _HeatherWalker//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js