Close Eye On Courthouse Security
By: Jamiese Price
Updated: December 14, 2012
The Houston County's Sheriff's Office is taking a closer look at its security measures after a shooting inside the Hugo Black U.S. Federal Courthouse in Birmingham, AL Thursday morning.
The shooter, who has been identified as 50-year-old David Lee Williams entered the courthouse armed with a gun and shot himself inside the chief clerk's office.
According to the U.S. Marshal's office, Williams was able to bring a gun inside the building because, as an employee, he used a different door to enter the courthouse. That entrance had a different security process.
Captain Jeff Carlisle in Houston County said, Thursday's shooting is why security measures are in place at the county courthouse. Carlisle said anyone that enters the courthouse is required to go through a metal detector and 'pat down' if warranted . Individuals must scan also send all their their bags through an x-ray scanner.
The security measures apply to the public and courthouse employees.
"At one time we had some issue with some employees coming through and not wanting to go through the security systems. This incident shows why we are making security adjustments.This actually puts our employees with a mindset of understanding why we're doing what we do," said Carlisle.
