Masontown shooting: Multiple injured including police officer at Pennsylvania courthouse

The gunman was pronounced dead at the scene, a spokesperson for Fayette County Emergency Management confirmed. Four victims have been transported to hospitals

Clark Mindock
New York
Wednesday 19 September 2018 16:41 BST
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Injuries reported in shooting at PA judge's office in Masontown, Pennsylvania

Four people have been injured and taken to the hospital including a reported police officer in Pennsylvania after a gunman opened fire at a district judge's office, several local reports indicate.

The reported gunman was killed at the scene, a spokesperson for the Fayette County Emergency Management told The Independent.

The shooting occurred sometime after 2pm local time in Masontown, Pennsylvania, and the Fayette County coroner has been called to the scene, an employee at that office has confirmed.

Two of the victims were airlifted to JW Ruby Memorial Hospital in West Virginia after the shooting, and one was taken to that hospital through emergency ground transportation. Another victim was transported privately to Uniontown Hospital in Pennsylvania.

The shooting prompted a soft lock down at Masontown Elementary School, and state police told local media that students there are being released to their parents as they arrive. Meanwhile, some students at the nearby AG South Middle School were being transported to the Masontown Fire Hall, where their parents can pick them up.

Police asked that the public stay away from District Magistrate Daniel Shimshock's office in Masontown, but said that there is no imminent threat to the community.

The judge's office was scheduled to have preliminary hearings on Wednesday, according to the court schedule. Sixty cases were scheduled to start at 1pm.

One 8-year-old, Kylie Martellin, told the Herald Standard that she was walking out of the bathroom when the shooting started.

"I heard shooting and I didn't know if I was OK. I was more concerned about my mom.

She said that the bathroom was covered in blood, but she was not sure where it came from.

"I was never around something like this before," the girl, who the newspaper reports was grabbed by a stranger and taken outside after she exited the bathroom, said.

It was not immediately clear why the gunman opened fire at the office.

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