A US inmate at a Michigan courthouse shot and killed two court officers and wounded a sheriff's deputy Monday during a struggle to escape before responding officers returned fire and killed him, officials said.
The sheriff's deputy and a civilian, who was shot in the arm at the Berrien County Courthouse, were taken to a hospital where they are in stable condition, Sheriff Paul Bailey said.
The bodies of the victims were still inside the courthouse building, as investigators pieced together what happened.
Officials planned to release the victims' names after all family members were notified.
"I lost some friends today, so I'm here with a heavy heart," Bailey told reporters, describing the officers killed as longtime law enforcement officials who had been bailiffs for the last 10 years.
"Our hearts are torn apart," he said, "They were our friends. They were our colleagues."
Investigators were interviewing witnesses on the third floor of the courthouse where the shooting took place.
They were also reviewing security camera footage.
"An inmate was trying to be moved from a cell by a deputy and a bailiff," Bailey said, when a fight occurred in the corridor between the holding cell and the courtroom.
"That inmate was able to disarm one of the officers," he said. "We are still investigating to find out what officer."
The courthouse will be closed the rest of Monday and on Tuesday.
The shooting came amid jitters across the United States following the killing of five police officers in Dallas last week by an Army veteran upset about the fatal police shootings of two black men in Louisiana and Minnesota.
Responding to the shooting in Michigan, Governor Rick Snyder asked for support for law enforcement.
"This is a particularly tough time for law enforcement, so I ask that everyone reach out (to police officers)," Snyder said. "We need to rally together, to support one another."
AFP
Tue Jul 12 2016
![Three dead at Michigan courthouse: official Three dead at Michigan courthouse: official](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-04/71459872860_CrimeScene.jpg)
The bodies of the victims were still inside the courthouse building, as investigators pieced together what happened.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.
Pakistan sahkan 4 warganya terbunuh di Oman
Pakistan berkata pada Selasa empat warganya terbunuh dalam insiden tembakan pada malam Isnin berhampiran ibu negara Oman, Muscat.
Lima terbunuh, puluhan cedera dalam protes antikuota di Bangladesh
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh dan puluhan lagi cedera dalam pertempuran antara pelajar yang memprotes sistem kuota dalam pekerjaan sektor awam dan polis di pelbagai bahagian Bangladesh pada Selasa.
Kerajaan cadang perkenal pembiayaan swasta
Kerajaan menyasarkan untuk memperkenalkan pembiayaan swasta alternatif bagi memastikan kemampanan kewangan program sektor air, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan pada perbelanjaan kerajaan dan mengukuhkan daya tahan.
Saya tak fitnah Guan Eng, cuma jelaskan siasatan SPRM - Muhyiddin
Presiden Bersatu Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur hari ini bahawa beliau tidak memfitnah Lim Guan Eng berhubung isu pengecualian cukai terhadap Yayasan Albukhary
KPT alu-alukan dapatan, cadangan PAC - Zambry
Ini termasuklah cadangan pelaksanaan Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024 kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan Kementerian Pendidikan Tinggi (KPT).