BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich. – A little over a week after a shooting inside a courthouse that claimed the lives of two bailiffs, new 911 calls are painting a chilling and chaotic scene as those events unfolded.
Nearly two hours of audio was released to FOX 17 News this week.
Berrien County officials say 44-year-old Larry Darnell Gordon wrestled a gun out of a deputy's holster and fatally shot bailiffs Ronald Kienzle and Joseph Zangaro. The deputy and a woman were also injured in the shooting.
In the 911 calls, dispatchers rush to distribute resources to the scene, and panicked bystanders can be heard describing the sights and sounds of the nightmare-turned-reality. Many hid in their offices while others stayed locked away in bathrooms, waiting for the shooting to end and police to clear the building.
During the incident, Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey says Gordon took hostages for a short period of time before trying to leave through another door. He was shot and killed by other officers.
Gordon was handcuffed in the front during the altercations. He was facing several felony charges, including criminal sexual conduct, after officials say he held a 17-year-old girl in a shed for approximately two weeks against her will.
Berrien County officials will hold a press conference Friday to provide updates to their investigation. Hundreds of law enforcement officers attended the funeral services of both Kienzle and Zangaro.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
