Three reported dead at Michigan courthouse: media

[CHICAGO] A shooting Monday at a county courthouse in the US state of Michigan has left three people dead including the attacker and several others injured, local media reported, citing the county sheriff.

Two of the dead are court bailiffs, while the shooter was the third, local ABC affiliates reported, citing Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey.

The shooting came amid jitters across the United States following the killing of five police officers in Dallas last week by an Army veteran upset about the fatal police shootings of two black men in Louisiana and Minnesota.

A sheriff's deputy was also shot and several civilians were injured, Mr Bailey said. All were reportedly in stable condition at the hospital.

A local ABC News affiliate said a man being taken to prison in the mid-afternoon grabbed a deputy's gun and started shooting at the courthouse in the city of Saint Joseph.

Michigan State Police "secured the scene at the Berrien County courthouse and started its investigation into the shooting that occurred this afternoon," Michigan governor Rick Snyder said on Twitter. He asked for prayers for those affected.

Crime tape could be seen around the perimeter of the courthouse, which was closed for the remainder of the day, according to its website.

Officials have scheduled a press conference at 6:00 pm (2200 GMT).

AFP