Ex-officer killed after firing at US courthouse

WHEELING: A retired police officer armed with an assault weapon and a handgun fired up to two dozen shots at a US courthouse in West Virginia on Wednesday before police returned fire and killed him, authorities said. Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger identified the gunman as Thomas J. Piccard, 55, of Bridgeport, Ohio. He was a retired Wheeling police officer. Schwertfeger did not say whether Piccard used both weapons during the assault on the Wheeling Federal Building or speculate on a motive. Officials said they had no knowledge of any sort of note left behind by Piccard. Three on-duty security officers were injured by flying debris during the onslaught, he told a news conference. Mayor Andy McKenzie said police who briefed him earlier Wednesday told him that Piccard was a 20-year-plus veteran of the force who retired 13 years ago. Investigators were seeking a search warrant for Piccard's home in hopes of determining a motive and if he acted alone, said Chief Deputy Mike Claxton of the US Marshals Service in northern West Virginia. Asked if the gunman had any beef with the US government, Claxton said, ``We're really digging hard at this point to find out.'' (AP)