Courthouse Shooting Sparks Security Reviews

Courthouse Shooting Sparks Security Reviews

After an ambush shooting outside a courthouse in Steubenville, Ohio, lands a judge in the hospital, neighboring Belmont County is rethinking security standards.

  • Aug 23, 2017

After an ambush shooting outside a courthouse in Steubenville, Ohio, lands a judge in the hospital, neighboring Belmont County is rethinking security standards.

Judge Joseph J. Bruzzese Jr., who sits on the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas, was shot on Monday when a man ran up to him outside of the courthouse and began shooting. Bruzzese drew a gun and fired at least five rounds at the shooter who authorities identified as Nathaniel Richmond.

Richmond was struck three times and killed when a probation officer as well as the judge fired rounds at him. Jefferson County Sheriff Fred J. Abdalla told reporters it was not clear whether one of Bruzzese’s bullets hit Richmond.

Bruzzese was taken into surgery after the shooting, according to police. He was in stable condition Monday afternoon and is expected to survive.

Authorities still do not know what the motivation was behind the ambush shooting. Richmond is father to one of two teenagers found guilty in Steubenville’s high-profile rape case in 2013, however, Bruzzese had “nothing at all to do with that particular case,” Jane Hanlin, a prosecutor for Jefferson County, said during a briefing.

The question Belmont County leaders are asking now is: where do you draw the line when it comes to safety?

The Ohio Supreme Court issued a ruling on courthouse security years ago, but specifically for the inside of such county facilities.

"Inside, I think we're very safe. I feel very comfortable with the deputies that we have inside and the deputies that come along with court proceedings, the monitors that we have, the cameras throughout the courthouse,” Belmont County Commissioner Mark Thomas said. “This courthouse is very well protected."

But outside security, as demonstrated by Monday’s shooting in Steubenville, is more difficult to control.

"It would really be difficult to take security to the exterior of the building to protect any elected official or even our residents," Thomas said, "because where do you draw the line?"

Featured

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

  • AI Used as Part of Sophisticated Espionage Campaign

    A cybersecurity inflection point has been reached in which AI models has become genuinely useful in cybersecurity operation. But to no surprise, they can used for both good works and ill will. Systemic evaluations show cyber capabilities double in six months, and they have been tracking real-world cyberattacks showing how malicious actors were using AI capabilities. These capabilities were predicted and are expected to evolve, but what stood out for researchers was how quickly they have done so, at scale. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.