Names Of Victims In Courthouse Shooting Released

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Two Berrien County court officers are dead after an inmate of the county jail grabbed one of their guns on Monday afternoon. Sheriff Paul Bailey identified the victims as 61-year-old Joseph Zangaro and 63-year-old Ronald Kienzle. Police say Zangaro was the supervisor of court security and had worked for the court since 2004. He was a retired Michigan State Police Bridgman post commander. Kienzle had worked for the trial court since 2005, and was a retired Benton Township police sergeant. Berrien County Sheriff’s Deputy James Atterberry was also shot, and is recovering at Lakeland Hospital, along with a woman whose name hasn’t been released. The inmate has been identified as 45-year-old Larry Darnell Gordon, of Coloma. Bailey says Gordon was able to get an officer’s gun during a struggle.

“We had no information that he was going to be violent, and not everyone that goes into the courtroom is handcuffed,” Bailey said.

Bailey said Gordon briefly took some hostages and then tried to escape the courthouse before he was shot by responding officer. He said Gordon was in the county jail on several felony charges. The situation caused the courthouse and surrounding area to be evacuated while police searched the building room by room. Bailey described both of the deceased officers as well-respected among law enforcement and within the community.