Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey confirmed at a Monday press conference that two court bailiffs -- both retired police officers -- were killed and the suspect, an unidentified man, was shot and killed by police.
Bailey said the shooting happened about 2:25 p.m. when a "disturbance" occurred on the third floor of the courthouse.
"The person had shot two bailiffs, they're both deceased, and shot a deputy sheriff who is at the hospital right now being treated in an emergency room."
Bailey said the sheriff's deputy is in stable condition at Lakeland Regional Hospital. Bailey said "several civilians" were also taken to the hospital and are in stable condition as well at the same hospital.
"They went for shelter once the shooting occurred and other brave officers were able to come to their rescue and take the shooter down," Bailey said.
Bailey said the sheriff's department is investigating the shootings along with the St. Joseph's Police Department and Michigan State Police.
"We have the MSP Crime Lab coming down to process the scene," Bailey said. "We don’t have all the details about what happened or what occurred or how he got the weapon, we will be investigating that along with the homicide task force."
Bailey called the shootings a "terrible, terrible" event and said additional information will be released later Monday.
"We're asking people to pray for the families of the deceased," Bailey said.
Retired Benton Township Police officer Kim Fowler knew both of the slain bailiffs well. He said he worked with one of the men for a quarter of a century at Benton Township and the other, a retired state trooper, was his neighbor.
He said he was stunned by the news. He called both men "100 percent police officers carrying on in their retirement by being in the courtroom."
“There are always sporadic incidents everywhere in the country," Fowler said. "Fortunately nothing has happened recently here, but I guess it was our turn in the barrel.”