Report: Five people shot at Jefferson County Courthouse (On edit: Two fatalities)

[TexasTowelie]

Five people may have been shot as gunfire erupted at a Jefferson County Courthouse in Beaumont, according to media reports.

According to the Beaumont Enterprise, five people may have been shot after someone opened fire at the courthouse. The newspaper also reported that someone might be holding hostages near the scene.

It was unclear what sparked the gunfire.

No other information was immediately available.

http://blog.chron.com/newswatch/2012/03/report-five-people-shot-at-jefferson-county-courthouse/

UPDATE: Reporter Dan Wallach says by 11:45 a.m., the courthouse area was completely sealed off and officers in plain clothes were crouched behind cars in the parking lot with guns in the hands. Others were putting on bullet-proof vests, and some in camouflage with assault riffles.

Courthouse bailiffs are reporting two fatalities.

Reporter Heather Nolan, currently on scene, has talked to witnesses claiming there could be as many as five potential victims.

http://blog.beaumontenterprise.com/newsworthy/2012/03/14/scanners-possible-shooter-hostage-situation-at-or-near-the-courthouse/

[TexasTowelie]

1. Additional coverage at http://www.kfdm.com/shared/news/top-stories/stories/kfdm_vid_139.shtml

The TV station is indicating one fatality; however, the information may need to be updated:

BEAUMONT - A man has shot several people at the Jefferson County Courthouse, including one elderly woman dead at the scene outside the courthouse, and at least three other people who were shot and survived, including another person shot outside the courthouse, one in the basement of the County Clerk's Office, and one at the Bus transfer station, according to information provided to KFDM News by Beaumont EMS and Fire.

Police responded to the call of shots fired at the courthouse at about 11 a.m.

The suspect left the courthouse and is inside the XCEL building two blocks from the courthouse at Milam and Park, next to the Chamber of Commerce. Employees have taken his gun and police are working to take him into custody.

One woman in her 20's was taken by ambulance to a hospital. She had several gunshot wounds.

[TexasTowelie]

2. 12:43: BPD reports only one confirmed fatality, not two as originally reported by courthouse bailiff

A scheduled press conference at BPD will take place at 1:30 p.m. CDT.

[sonias]

3. It's going to be a sad story

The case was a child abuse case, so it's not going to be pretty.