1 Dead, 3 Wounded in Texas Courthouse Shooting

A man at court with family members opened fire outside a Southeast Texas courthouse today, killing one person and wounding at least three others, police said. The gunman also was injured outside the Jefferson County Courthouse in Beaumont, about 80 miles east of Houston. Police would not say why the suspect came to the courthouse with his family, but said he opened fire and shot several rounds in front of the building.

The victims have not been identified. One was further injured when the suspect hit her with his truck while trying to escape. "It was pandemonium," said Judge Larry Gist, whose office is across the street from the main courthouse building. The suspect drove three to four blocks away before abandoning his truck in the middle of the street, police said. He was arrested a short time later. (More Texas stories.)