Security Guard Shot by Man Who Turned Gun on Himself in Federal Court House
(DNAINFO) Julia Bottles, Murray Weiss and Anton K. Nilsson — A security guard at a federal immigration court was shot in the head and critically injured by a man who the turned the gun on himself Friday evening, sources said.
A 68-year-old military veteran entered the courthouse at 201 Varick St., near West Houston Street, just after 5 p.m., sources said.
He walked up to the security checkpoint and shot the guard in the head for no apparent reason, sources said.
He then passed through the checkpoint, before putting the gun to his own head and pulling the trigger, sources said.
The shooter, whose name is being withheld by DNAinfo New York, was pronounced dead at the scene, sources said.
The injured security guard was taken to Lenox Hill Healthplex in critical condition, according to law enforcement sources.
Investigators found two ID cards on the shooter: One for the New York Athletic Club and the other from the VA.
It was not immediately clear what motivated the shooting.