Sheriff: Georgia courthouse gunman killed in shootout was armed with explosives and assault rifle, apparently planned to take hostages.


Georgia courthouse shooter had bombs, assault rifle, sheriff says

By Vivian Kuo and Marylynn Ryan, CNN
updated 12:50 PM EDT, Fri June 6, 2014
our video will begin momentarily.
Atlanta (CNN) -- [Breaking news update at 12:50 p.m. ET]

A man who shot a sheriff's deputy outside a north Georgia courthouse was killed in the shootout with authorities there, Forsyth County Sheriff Duane Piper said. The shooter, armed with explosives and an assault rifle, apparently intended to storm the courthouse and take hostages, but was prevented from going inside by the wounded deputy, Piper said.

[Original story published at 11:50 a.m.]
A sheriff's deputy was shot at a courthouse in north Georgia's Forsyth County on Friday morning, CNN affiliate WSB reported, citing police.

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Robin Regan didn't confirm the report to CNN, but said the office did respond to a "shots fired" call Friday morning, and that the scene "is now secure."

A witness, Alan Neal, said he was at an intersection in front of the courthouse in Cumming when he heard gunfire.

After he heard "two or three pops," he saw deputies fire on someone in front of the courthouse, Neal said.

Neal said he saw people tending to someone who appeared to be injured, and police dragging someone else at the side of the courthouse.

Cumming is about 35 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/06/justic...ouse-shooting/