ST. JOSEPH, MICH. (WKZO-AM) — Two court bailiffs are dead, and a deputy and a civilian are wounded but in fair condition after an inmate at the Berrien County Courthouse grabbed a deputy’s gun and opened fire Monday afternoon.
Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey has identified the gunman as Larry Darnell Gordon, a 45-year-old from Coloma, who was being held on felony charges. He was also killed by gunfire.
Sheriff Bailey has also identified three of the four shooting victims. Dead are Bailiffs Joseph Zangaro, 61, and Ronald Kienzle, 63.
Deputy James Atterberry is expected to survive.
The name of the civilian who was hit in the arm has not been released.
The two survivors are both being treated at the Lakeland Medical Center.
Sheriff Bailey says Gorden was handcuffed. Earlier reports had said he was not. He had apparently never shown an inclination toward violence. They were preparing to transfer him from the holding cell at the courthouse to a courtroom.
After wounding deputy Atterberry and mortally wounding the two bailiffs, Bailey said Gorden took hostages for about five minutes then tried to escape through another door.
Two other bailiffs confronted him and Gorden was shot and killed.
Gorden had a long criminal record of mostly petty crimes. This spring, he was arrested on an assault and drug charges. That’s apparently why he was in court when he tried to make his escape.
Sheriff Bailey said it has been a sad day. The bailiffs who were killed were friends and colleagues that he has known for 30 years.
Michigan State Police have taken over the investigation and their forensics experts are going through the courthouse, which will be closed Tuesday.
Autopsies are planned for Tuesday at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing.
Gov. Rick Snyder was also on hand for an evening news conference. He called on the people of Michigan to pray for the families of the victims and those that were wounded. He called the day’s events “terrible.”
