Court officer, gunman killed in Las Vegas shooting

Court officer, gunman killed in Las Vegas shooting

·A gunman opened fire in a courthouse in Las Vegas, killing one court officer.
·The gunman died across the street shortly after the shootout.
·There was no immediate word on the gunman's identity and motive.

Police tape closes Las Vegas Blvd. near the federal building in Las Vegas, Monday, Jan. 4, 2010. A gunman opened fire in the lobby of a federal building in downtown Las Vegas on Monday, killing one court officer and wounding a second before he was shot to death.

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 4 -- Police shot dead a gunman who opened fire in a federal courthouse in downtown Las Vegas on Monday, killing one court officer and wounding a second.

Previous reports said at least two guards were wounded in the shooting which occurred in the courthouse's lobby at about 8 a.m. local time.

Authorities confirmed later that one of the victims died in hospital.

The U.S. Marshals Service said the victims included a deputy U.S. marshal and a court security officer. The 48-year-old deputy marshal was hospitalized, and the 65-year-old security officer died.

Witnesses said they heard about 30 to 40 gun shots in the shooting.

FBI Special Agent Joseph Dickey said the gunman died across the street shortly after the shootout.

Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Roxanna Lea Irwin said authorities believe the shooter acted alone.

There was no immediate word on the gunman's identity and motive.

The building was evacuated and police cordoned off the area for several blocks in a "standard procedure," Dickey said.

Police surrounded the federal courthouse building in Las Vegas. on Jan 4, 2010. A gunman opened fire in the lobby of a federal building in downtown Las Vegas on Monday, killing one court officer and wounding a second before he was shot to death.

Police tape blocks off the federal building in Las Vegas, Monday, Jan. 4, 2010. A gunman opened fire in the lobby of the federal building in downtown Las Vegas on Monday, killing one court officer and wounding a second before he was shot to death.

Law enforcement officials investigate a fatal shooting at the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse in downtown Las Vegas, January 4, 2010.

Traffic on Las Vegas Boulevard North is diverted away from the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada after a fatal shooting January 4, 2010. One security officer was killed and a deputy U.S. marshal was wounded when a man pulled out a shotgun and opened fire, officials said. The gunman, whose name has not been released, died across the street shortly after marshals returned fire, officials said.
(Reuters)