2 Women Shot to Death, 1 Hurt in Seattle Courthouse

A gunman shot three women sitting on a courthouse bench Thursday, killing two of them and critically wounding the third in an attack that was apparently related to a marriage annulment case.

One of the slain women was at least seven months pregnant, and the baby died.

A man with a semiautomatic pistol was taken into custody after the shooting on the King County Courthouse’s second floor. No immediate charges were filed.

“It appears that he knew all of the victims. The relationships at this point we’re not clear on,” police spokeswoman Christie-Lynne Bonner said.

The three women were shot in the head and chest.

Margie Baran, a lawyer, said the victims included a woman whose husband was seeking an annulment of their marriage. Two friends waiting to testify for the woman Thursday at a hearing in Family Court also were shot, Baran said.

Baran said the woman had accused her husband of abuse.

Lois Edwards, a lawyer who was on the second floor, said the gunman stood in front of three or four people seated on the bench and fired five or six shots. Edwards said she did not hear the man say anything before opening fire.

Some metal detectors were in use in the courthouse Thursday, said Don Oliver, chief of security for King County’s maintenance and operations section.

However, the devices were not in use on the second floor, said another security officer, Norm Case. He did not explain why.

Metal detectors will be placed at all entrances to the courthouse when it reopens today, officials said.

“For the last several years, the court and the council have been deliberating and gradually increasing security in the courthouse,” County Executive Gary Locke said. “However, violence is escalating so fast that it cannot wait for further consensus.”