A sheriffs' deputy in the hospital and one man is dead after a shootout in front of the Forsyth County courthouse in Georgia Friday morning. The suspect reportedly drove up to the building armed with an assault rifle and explosives.
"Authorities say he tossed gas grenades and smokes grenades and tried to run over a sheriff's deputy... This deputy encountered this gunman ... then started engaging gunfire with him ... and was able to delay this man just long enough." (Via CNN)
That deputy, a 25-year veteran, was shot in the leg during the incident but is expected to be okay. Authorities say if it wasn't for the delay the suspect, who shot dead, would have likely got into the building and possibly took hostages. (Via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
The Forsyth Herald reports Dennis Marx is being named as the suspect. The motive behind the attack is still not know. (Via Twitter / @forsythherald)
"We've learned that he identified himself as a sovereign citizen. Marx was tied to violent acts against law enforcement across the country. His former attorney says Marx frequented gun shows and also bought and traded guns." (Via WSB-TV)
Marx was allegedly due in court Friday morning, just hours before the shootout. He was reportedly expected to take a plea deal for drug and weapons charges.
According to WSB-TV, local authorities searched Marx's home after the courthouse incident. County Sheriff Duane Piper described Marx's home as a "bomb," saying "he was confident it was setup as an explosive trap." Police have contained the house.
PIPER: "He has not been living in his house for about ten days so we're fairly certain at this point that there's probably booby traps at the house for secondary devices in an attempt to kill more officers." (Via WECT)
Other than the one deputy, no one else was hurt. Marx's former lawyer described his mental state around the time of the incident as "very fragile... very sensitive [and] very, very scared."
