At Courthouse??

Gunman Down After Two-Hour Standoff with Cops at Florida Courthouse

A man brandished a gun outside a Florida courthouse in a two-hour standoff with law enforcement officers Friday before he was killed, according to television reports from the scene.

The man was killed after SWAT officers moved in on him and he took off on foot, WESH, the NBC affiliate in Orlando, reported.

It was not clear from video of the incident whether he shot himself or was shot by the officers.

A sheriff’s spokeswoman did not answer a call from NBC News.

The courthouse, in the city of Viera, was locked down while the man was outside. He spent part of the time pacing, mostly pointing his gun at the ground, while officers tried to negotiate with him from behind an SUV.

Snipers were also perched on the courthouse roof.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey told WESH during the standoff that he did not know why the man was upset.

Jury selection in the murder trial of Brandon Bradley, who is accused of killing a sheriff’s deputy two years ago, was in its fifth day at the courthouse.

First published February 28th 2014, 9:31 am