WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Police say a 68-year-old man who opened fire in a Delaware courthouse lobby, killing his former daughter-in-law and another woman, fatally shot himself after exchanging gunfire with officers.
State police spokesman Sgt. Paul Shavack said Tuesday that Thomas Matusiewicz of Edcouch, Texas, shot himself in the head after killing 39-year-old Christine Belford and her 47-year-old friend Laura Mulford on Monday. Two police also were hit by gunfire but were protected by their armored vests.
Authorities said Belford and Mulford were at the courthouse for a child support hearing for Belford's ex-husband, David Matusiewicz, following a bitter custody dispute.
David Matusiewicz was being detained by federal authorities Tuesday on charges that he violated probation after pleading guilty in 2009 to fraud and kidnapping charges for taking his children to Central America.
Family Court Order
In another twist in the story Lenore, the wife of the alleged courthouse shooter, has been hit with a family court order not to have contact with her grandchildren.
Radio Station WDEL reports that Attorney General Beau Biden says she is a danger to the children.
She was sentenced to 18 months in prison four years ago for aiding her son David, when he kidnap his three daughters.
He took them to Nicaragua, where they lived in her motor home.
