Displaying items by tag: jefferson county

Municipal Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. was shot and wounded outside of a Steubenville courthouse at the start of the workday Monday morning. 

According to reports, a suspect and another man were seen waiting outside of the courtroom and then approached Bruzzese as he was walking up to the entrance of the building. That's when police say the suspect, whose name has not been released, fired five shots. Judge Bruzzese, who was carrying a gun, fired five shots himself, though it is reported that a probation officer returned fire, killing the suspect on the scene. 

Judge Bruzzese was transported to an area hospital with injuries and later Monday morning was reportedly in stable condition. 

Police were seen taking a man into the back of a police car, but, in a Facebook Live interview with WTOV-9 Steubenville and other news outlets, Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla said that this person was not considered a suspect at the time. Sheriff Abdalla added that the man was a passenger in the vehicle with the shooter, and claims that he had no prior knowledge. 

The shooter was reportedly due in court that morning, but it wasn't immediately clear for what exactly. Sheriff Abdalla suggested that it was some kind of retaliation shooting, but a clear motive hasn't been established yet. 

Steubenville Police and Ohio BCI are investigating.