A shooting has been reported at the Federal Courthouse in Salt Lake City, Utah officials say.
According to the Associated Press, the United States Attorney's office says a shooting inside of the courthouse has left at least one person injured.
Just talked to witness who was right outside courtroom, heard bang, was told to get against wall, injured person wheeled out on stretcher.
Just talked to witness who was right outside courtroom, heard bang, was told to get against wall, injured person wheeled out on stretcher.
The Associated Press adds that Salt Lake City police were called to the U.S. District Court building around 9:45 a.m., and USA Today adds that the U.S. attorney's office believes the shooting is connected to the trial of an alleged Tonga Crip Siale Angilau. The courthouse, which just opened a week ago boasting upgraded security, has been placed on lockdown.
The Salt Lake City Tribune reports that Angilau was shot by a U.S. Marshal after charging at a witness armed with "a pen or pencil." Mark Dressen, the FBI assistant special agent in charge, said the 25-year-old was shot multiple times in the chest, but was breathing when he was removed from the courthouse on a stretcher.
His current condition is unknown.
UPDATE: Siale Angilau died from his injuries at a local hospital this afternoon. The Salt Lake City Tribune says he was on trial for racketeering charges, and USA Today notes that the witness he allegedly charged, 31-year-old Utah State Prison inmate Vaiola Mataele Tenifa, was testifying about how the Tongan Crips operated.
Judge Tena Campbell decided to declare a mistrial. "The court has met with the jury and and observed that most of the jury members are visibly shaken and upset by this episode,'' she wrote in a statement. "The court finds that this occurrence in the courtroom would so prejudice Mr. Angilau as to deprive him of a fair trial."
[via Associated Press, Salt Lake city Tribune, USA Today and Twitter]
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