Three people shot to death outside courthouse in central Michigan

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) _ Three people on their way to a court hearing were shot to death Tuesday morning in the parking lot of the Isabella County Courthouse, officials said. <br><br>The victims, two

Tuesday, March 5th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) _ Three people on their way to a court hearing were shot to death Tuesday morning in the parking lot of the Isabella County Courthouse, officials said.

The victims, two women and a man, were headed to a probate court hearing, police officer Charles Lyon said. He said one of the victims was the ex-wife of the suspected shooter.

Lyon described the motive for the shooting as a ``domestic type of deal.''

Witnesses told police the shooter fled the scene.

The suspect, who was to be ``part of that hearing,'' was believed to be holed up in his house in nearby Weidman later Tuesday, Lyon said. The house was surrounded by police, he said.

At the courthouse, about 60 miles north of Lansing, the entrance to the parking lot was cordoned off with several layers of yellow police tape Tuesday afternoon.

The names of the victims were being withheld pending notification of relatives.