Gunman Kills One, Critically Wounds Daughter at Texas Courthouse
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12newsnow/ABC(BEAUMONT, Texas) — A Houston man on trial for aggravated sexual assault opened fire on Wednesday in Beaumont, Texas, leaving his 20-year-old daughter in critical condition and wounding her mother, according to police.
Bartholomew Granger, 41, also shot at two bystanders, killing 79-year-old Minnie Ray Seabol and wounding the other, police said.
The incident began at 11:21 a.m. when Granger began shooting from a truck in front of the Jefferson County courthouse.
His daughter, Samantha Jackson, and ex-wife were witnesses against him in his sexual assault case; Jackson had already begun her testimony in the case and was scheduled to resume at 1:00 p.m.
After shooting his daughter, Granger ran her over with his vehicle, authorities said.
Later, when Granger’s truck was disabled, he ran about one block to a business and took hostages inside the establishment.
The hostages, however, refused “to be victims,” said Beaumont Police Chief James Singletary at a press conference later in the day. “They took the gun away from him and unlocked the door for the SWAT team” to enter.
Singletary added that the hostages did “a great job and we want to thank them.” Their names have not been released.
Granger suffered some gunshot wounds during the confrontation with law enforcement, according to Jefferson County Sheriff Mitch Woods. He has been released from the hospital and is in custody in the Jefferson County Jail.
He is expected to be arraigned on murder and attempted murder charges, but no court date has been set.
Granger’s ex-wife and the second injured bystander have both been treated and released from the hospital. Granger’s daughter remains hospitalized in critical condition.
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