"3 dead, including gunman, in Del. courthouse shooting; Custody battle cited; 2 women seen as targets" by Randall Chase | Associated Press, February 12, 2013
WILMINGTON, Del. — Motivated by a yearslong custody dispute, a gunman opened fire Monday morning in a Delaware courthouse lobby as the building was opening to the public for the day, exchanging shots with police, authorities said. Three people, including the gunman, died....
State Police Sergeant Paul Shavack said the gunman opened fire before he passed metal detectors in the lobby....
In the hours after the shooting, dozens of police cars and emergency vehicles were on the streets surrounding the courthouse. Police searched the courthouse room by room as a precaution.
Dick Lawyer, who works across the street at a law office, said his office building was on lockdown for a few hours, starting about 8:15 a.m.
Is that a made up name, or.... ??
The shooting occurred about five minutes earlier....
--more--"
"Del. courthouse gunman was ex-father-in-law" by Randall Chase | Associated Press, February 13, 2013
WILMINGTON, Del. — A 68-year-old man whose son was engaged in a bitter custody battle was identified Tuesday as the gunman who opened fire in a Delaware courthouse lobby, killing his former daughter-in-law and another woman. The gunman also died after exchanging fire with officers.
Delaware State Police said Thomas Matusiewicz of Edcouch, Texas, shot Christine Belford, 39, and her friend Laura Mulford, 47, on Monday. Two police hit by gunfire were protected by their armored vests.
Investigators were awaiting autopsy results Tuesday to determine whether Matusiewicz was killed by police or shot himself with his .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun.
State Police homicide detectives continued interviewing witnesses, viewing surveillance videos, and collecting evidence at the New Castle County Courthouse, which remained closed.
Authorities said Belford and Mulford, both from Newark, Del., were at the courthouse to attend a child support arrears hearing for Belford’s former husband, David Matusiewicz.
State Police spokesman Sergeant Paul Shavack said Matusiewicz, 45, was being questioned and was in custody on a federal probation issue.
Matusiewicz appeared in court Tuesday afternoon for an initial appearance on the government’s request to revoke his probation following his 2009 guilty plea to federal fraud and kidnapping charges. Matusiewicz was led into court wearing an orange prison jumpsuit with his hands cuffed behind his back.
Federal prosecutors say Matusiewicz sought permission on Jan. 8 to travel from Texas to Delaware and told officials he would be staying with an uncle in Bayville, N.J., but that he spent Sunday night, the night before the shooting, at a home in Elkton, Md.
Prosecutors also say Matusiewicz is behind on child support payments of $2,200 a month.
--more--"
Also see: Delaware Doctor Tortured Daughter
Delaware Doctor Visit
Got some sick doctors down Delaware way, don't you?
