2 Bailiffs, Gunman Killed, 2 Others Injured In Berrien County Courthouse Shooting

ST. JOSEPH, Mich. (WWJ) - Three people were killed, including two bailiffs, and two others were injured in a shooting at the Berrien County courthouse in southwest Michigan on Monday.

An inmate -- identified as Larry Gordon, a 45 year old who was facing multiple felony charges -- took a gun from an officer during an escape attempt while he was being escorted from a holding cell to a courtroom.

After taking the weapon from an officer, Gordon shot and killed two bailiffs -- both of whom were retired police officers -- and wounded a deputy and a citizen, Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey said.

"After he exchanged gunfire, or shot, the deputy and shot and killed the two bailiffs he went into the court area and took several hostages for a short period of time until he tried to leave through another door," Bailey said. "That's when the other two bailiffs confronted him and that's when he was shot and killed."

Bailey said that Gordon shot and injured a deputy and a female civilian before he was killed by two other bailiffs.

Bailey identified the two bailiffs killed in the incident as Joe Zangaro and Ron Kienzle.

James Atterberry -- the deputy who was injured in the incident -- was taken to Lakeland Regional Hospital and is in intensive care but "doing fine," according to Bailey. The identity of the injured citizen was not released.

Bailey said that Gordon had no history of violence while he was jailed and that he was not wearing handcuffs at the time of the incident.

"We had no indications that he has been violent -- he hasn't been [violent] in our jail," Bailey said. "At this time, we had no warning signs of him doing anything."

[MORE: Courthouse Shooter's Ex-Wife: He Probably Wanted To 'Get Home To Our Baby Girl']

Heard on chilling police scanner audio, an officer says they have a gunman cornered on the second floor of the courthouse and that he has a hostage. A short time later, it's shouted that shots have been fired.

Leroy Lane, whose wife is an executive secretary for one of the judges., said court was in session when gunshots rang out and a voice came over the intercom telling everyone to lock all doors and hide in a secluded area.

He spoke to this wife as she took cover under her desk.

"She's crying and hysterical; that's why I'm on the phone with her off and on...trying to keep her calm. And I'm on the outside really wondering what's going on with her," Lane told WWJ's Sandra McNeill.

"...I love my wife and I feel so helpless at this moment because I can't help her," he said. "I can't get to her, and that's a miserable feeling in itself, known that you have a loved one and that your hands are helpless at the time knowing that a killer is on the loose in the building."

Berrien Circuit Judge Charlie LaSata told Gongwer News Service that the shooter had just left his courtroom when he heard the shots. LaSata said he pushed a panic button and locked his staff in the courtroom with him while a bailiff ran to help.

The courthouse — in St Joseph, near the Indiana border — was placed on lockdown.

St. Joseph resident Ryan Blanzy said he saw dozens of police vehicles and a SWAT team with assault rifles on the scene.

"They have like a full block away from the courthouse completely taped off and they have cop cars blocking roads and everything else," he told WWJ's Sandra McNeill. "I've seen three K-9 cop cars...There's a very strong police force outside in the surrounding area."

On Twitter, Gov. Rick Snyder said a Michigan State Police investigation was underway by around 3:30 p.m. In another tweet, the governor asked for prayers.

Snyder called the shooting a "terrible day in a wonderful community."

"I want to reinforce the fact that we're being supportive in every way possible with the Michigan State Police, the crime lab, also with counseling resources," Snyder said. "I ask that all Michiganders put your prayers out -- your thoughts and prayers -- with the families of the lost law enforcement officials."

Presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump also took to Twitter, asking for prayers.

The lockdown was lifted later in the afternoon.

Stay with WWJ Newsradio 950 and CBSDetroit.com for the latest.