Three people have been shot dead and a police officer has been injured in a courthouse shooting in Michigan in the US, police say.
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The shooting occurred at the Berrien County Courthouse in the town of St Joseph, in south-western Michigan, about 2.30pm on Monday, local time.
Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey said a man who had been in custody at the courthouse managed to get hold of a gun and opened fire, killing two court bailiffs.
BREAKING: Police officer one of four people shot outside the Berrien County Courthouse in St. Joseph. pic.twitter.com/XeIwSONN12— Kate Tillotson (@KateWWMT) July 11, 2016
Officers then shot and killed the gunman, Sheriff Bailey said.
"Brave officers were able to come to the rescue and take the shooter down," Sheriff Bailey said.
Michigan Governor Rick Snyder confirmed there had been a shooting at the courthouse, and said the scene had been "secured".
ABC affiliate WBND reported that the male shooter was being taken to jail when he took a gun off a sheriff's deputy and opened fire.
The shooting occurred on the third floor of the courthouse, and court staff ran for cover when the gunfire erupted.
Chris Gautz, from the Michigan Department of Corrections, tweeted that all probation staff were "safe and accounted for".
The police officer was reportedly shot in the leg and hand, and was taken to Lakeland Hospital in St Joseph in a stable condition. The officer's injuries were not life-threatening.
MSP has secured the scene at the Berrien County courthouse and started its investigation into the shooting that occurred this afternoon.— Governor Rick Snyder (@onetoughnerd) July 11, 2016
Please join me in praying for those affected. We will share more information here from MSP as it becomes available.— Governor Rick Snyder (@onetoughnerd) July 11, 2016
More to come
