TX - 1 dead, 3 wounded in Jefferson Co. courthouse shooting, 14 March 2012

[JoeFromLB]

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/03/1...ens-fire-at-texas-courthouse/?test=latestnews

At least one person is dead and three others wounded after a gunman opened fire Wednesday at a Texas courthouse.

The shooting happened at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Beaumont, Texas, about 80 miles east of Houston. A Beaumont police spokeswoman told Fox News that the alleged gunman was taken into custody after being shot by police.

 

[fran]

(CBS/AP/KFDM) BEAUMONT, Texas - At least one person is dead and several others injured after a man allegedly opened fire at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Beaumont Wednesday morning

more at link ...................... http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_...aumont-texas-courthouse-shooting-report-says/

 

[JoeFromLB]

Two dead now, according to this story. The shooter was reportedly on trial for sexual assault of a child:

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/n...use-shooting-suspect-was-on-trial-3406315.php

excerpt:
A 41-year-old man has been arrested by Beaumont police after he allegedly killed two family members in a shooting at the Jefferson County courthouse in downtown Beaumont Wednesday, officials said.

Officials said Bartholomew Granger was arrested Wednesday morning after he allegedly fatally shot two relatives about 11:20 a.m. at the Jefferson County Courthouse in the 1100 block of Pearl, officials said.

Investigators said Granger killed two family members just prior to a court appearance for a sexual assault case. It was unclear how the victims were related to Granger.

 

[momtective]

Background of Bartholomew Granger

Posted: Mar 14, 2012 1:34 PM CDT Updated: Mar 14, 2012 2:29 PM CDT

The gunman in Wednesday morning's courthouse shooting is identified as 41-year-old Bartholomew Granger.

317th District Judge Larry Thorne tells 12newsNow.Com Granger had a court hearing set for Wednesday afternoon after Granger was charged with sexually assaulting his daughter. The hearing was to take place before Criminal District Judge John Stevens.

A background check of Granger revealed a January 1, 2012 charge of aggravated sexual assault. It also shows drug possession and one gun-related charge.

This is a developing story. 12NewsNow.Com will have more on this story throughout the day.

http://www.12newsnow.com/story/17158257/background-of

 

[JoeFromLB]

For such a big story, the details are unusually sketchy so far. ABC is reporting that TWO have died, yet most other sources say only one, and a local TV station is quoting a judge that one person "may have died".

No information on the victims, period. Some reports are stating the gunman was shot, presumably by police.

I don't remember a story like this where the reporting is all over the place, with very little real information.

 

[fran]

I've seen several articles. I can't recall which one said it and you may already have it here.

But from what I gathered, the actual shooting was out on the steps at the front door. It was members of his own family that he shot. I read one article that said the one who died was an elderly type person.

Out of four people shot, one was the gunman, shot by police. In the cnn link below a judge is speaking by phone. It was outside the courthouse and on lunch break when the shooting occurred.

hth,
fran

http://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-courthouse-shooting-dead-injured/story?id=15919925#.T2D83BEgeHg

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/14/justice/texas-courthouse-shooting/?hpt=hp_t1


http://www.emergencyemail.org/localnews/TX/Jefferson-county.asp

 

[JoeFromLB]

Okay, more details here, as well as live coverage via Twitter of the press conference:

http://blog.chron.com/newswatch/2012/03/report-five-people-shot-at-jefferson-county-courthouse/

The court was in recess when he went to his truck, retrieved a gun, and started shooting.

 

[gxm]

It's a tragedy all the way around, but I sure hope that one of the victims wasn't the child who had been sexually abused.

 

[momtective]

Same Bartholomew Granger? http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/texas/txsdce/4:2010cv02698/783047/74

 

[jjenny]

More info: They think he shot the first person and night have run over that person as well. Then he is accused of shooting an elderly woman who died at the scene. Then another person who managed to run for cover. Then he is accused of taking different people hostage.

"He ran into the Richard Construction, Inc. building down the road where he took at least four people hostage."
http://www.khou.com/news/Report-1-k...at-Jefferson-County-Courthouse-142650625.html

 

[saba]

http://www.12newsnow.com/story/17157218/beaumon


...The person who died is identified by police as Minnie Rae Seabolt, 79...

...The daughter of the shooter is among those who were wounded. She is identified as Samantha Jackson, 20. She remains in the hospital in critical condition...

bbm

 

[teedie2]

From a local television station webpage:

Jefferson County authorities have arrested a family member of today's alleged courthouse shooter.

Quanell X held a news conference with the brother and son of Bartholomew Granger (pictured).

At the end of that news conference, authoriteis took Granger's son, Lyndon into custody.

We are told Lyndon is a co-defendant in the same sex assault case that Bartholomew was in trial for in Jefferson County.


More at link.

http://setxhomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=178212\

OK, whose picture is this above? I think it is the shooter, but the sentence is ambiguous, at best. IOW, I wasn't confused until I read it!

The son was accused in the same crime as the father. Daddy and brother vs sister? Sheesh! That poor girl. I hope she makes it.

Quanell X? I guess it was too far for Jessie J to come.

A week or two ago, I had asked my DH if we could go to a trial. We had spoken a few times in the past about going to a trial after we were retired. I really don't think that this was the trial, but there was an interesting one coming up, which prompted me to bring it up to DH. Well, No means No, and that's what he said, and now after this I don't want to ever go to one.

The shooter was apparently out on bond .. He is from Houston, and I'm wondering if the trial was moved to Jefferson County because of publicity in Houston, or if he and the family were living here when the assault took place and the shooter moved to Houston after.

Maybe tomorrow we will be flooded with information. But for now, my prayers are for the poor victim, that she finds healing and peace.

IMO, And I 'm not even going to say what my opinion of this creature is. Just know that it's "IMO."

 

[sherbetjello]

Quanell lives in Texas, I believe. And, not surprising he is already in this story somehow.

Sickening if you think bout it.

 

[LMax]

http://www.12newsnow.com/story/17162171/brother-of-suspected-gunman-arrested
The brother of the suspected gunman in Wednesday's shooting at the Jefferson County Courthouse in Beaumont was arrested today in Houston on an old charge of sexual assault.

 

[Velouria]

Quanell lives in Texas, I believe. And, not surprising he is already in this story somehow.

Sickening if you think bout it.

He's a real winner, all right...

Wasn't he making excuses for Mona Nelson last we heard from him?

 

[fran]

From the comments at the below link, it appears the four hostages at the construction company took action and disarmed the assailant and let Swat team members in the door. Thank goodness they chose to take action and not be victim's of this dangerous man. :highfive:

What a sad situation. This guy is only 41 and his daughter, he's accused of <things> is 20. Now she's fighting for her life because he didn't want to face the court and what he's accused of.

My prayers and thoughts are with all of the victims, including bystanders. What a scary and tragic situation to find yourself, and especially at the courthouse. Although I understand there was no way LE could have prevented what he did because he retrieved his assault rifle from his vehicle while court was in recess.

JMHO
fran

http://www.12newsnow.com/story/17157218/beaumon

 

[hollyblue]

http://www.12newsnow.com/story/17157218/beaumon


...The person who died is identified by police as Minnie Rae Seabolt, 79...

...The daughter of the shooter is among those who were wounded. She is identified as Samantha Jackson, 20. She remains in the hospital in critical condition...

bbm

Per reporter on video, the weapon was a Carbine AR 15.:what:

 

[hollyblue]

Same Bartholomew Granger? http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/texas/txsdce/4:2010cv02698/783047/74

Now we know why Quantell X is involved. Civil rights case against the City of Houston involving perp, his son, brother and father.

 

[Frigga]

Per reporter on video, the weapon was a Carbine AR 15.:what:

How is it that an average citizen (I use that term loosely) owns an assault rifle such as this one?

I honestly didn't know this was possible. Is this a legal weapon to own?

I am dumbfounded!

 

[21merc7]

How is it that an average citizen (I use that term loosely) owns an assault rifle such as this one?

I honestly didn't know this was possible. Is this a legal weapon to own?

I am dumbfounded!

I don't know about the UK, but one of those Dateline shows was about this. Men selling them, with children in tow, out of the trunks of there cars. Usually connected via internet or word of mouth. Where they originally get them IDK, but you can buy one if you want one. Just not legally.

Also, if you have ever been to a flea market in some smaller regions, all types of guns are for sale out of the backs of trucks. I also don't know how that could be legal, but it happens.

Larger cities, gangs sell them openly on the streets.

Where do they get them to begin with is the mystery to me.