WILMINGTON, Delaware (Reuters) – A gunman stalking a woman in a long running custody dispute opened fire in a courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware, yesterday and in the ensuing gun battle with police two women and the gunman were killed, authorities said.
The women were approaching metal detectors at New Castle County Courthouse as the building opened at 8 am when the assailant fired his weapon, Delaware State Police Sergeant Paul Shavack said at a news conference.
After an exchange of gunfire with police stationed at the entranceway metal detector, the gunman and two women were dead, he said. Two male police officers, aged 42 and 50, also were hit but were saved by their bullet-proof vests.
Terrified court personnel were herded from their offices into the lobby by police who rushed to the scene and then searched the 12-floor building.
Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden, son of US Vice President Joe Biden, said the gun violence was the result of a longstanding child custody dispute. The gunman was believed to have been targeting one of the women, Shavack said.
“Today’s tragic attack was not a random act of violence,” Biden said at a news conference.
