Beaumont gunman kills 1, wounds 4

A 40-year-old man has been arrested by Beaumont police after he allegedly killed a family member and wounded four others in a shooting at the Jefferson County courthouse in downtown Beaumont Wednesday, officials said. less A 40-year-old man has been arrested by Beaumont police after he allegedly killed a family member and wounded four others in a shooting at the Jefferson County courthouse in downtown Beaumont Wednesday, ... more Photo: Dave Ryan, Beaumont Enterprise Photo: Dave Ryan, Beaumont Enterprise Image 1 of / 65 Caption Close Beaumont gunman kills 1, wounds 4 1 / 65 Back to Gallery

A 40-year-old man has been arrested by Beaumont police after he allegedly killed a family member and wounded four others in a shooting outside the Jefferson County courthouse in downtown Beaumont Wednesday, officials said.

Officials said Bartholomew Granger was arrested after he allegedly fatally shot a relative about 11:20 a.m. at the Jefferson County Courthouse in the 1100 block of Pearl, officials said. Granger, who was injured by officers, was in custody by noon, police said. He remains at a Beaumont hospital.

Investigators said Granger killed a family member just prior to a court appearance for a sexual assault case. It was unclear how the victim was related to Granger. Late Wednesday, authorities did not comment on the motive.

District Court Judge John Stevens said Granger had a scheduled court appearance Wednesday for sexual assault case. The child's mother, who has not been identified, testified and then court broke for a regular docket call. Stevens was in court at the time of the shooting. No details about that case were immediately available.

Shortly after the recess, police said Granger retrieved a gun from his pickup truck and began firing at people outside of the courthouse.

KTRK-TV reports on its website that Granger is from Houston. He shot and then ran over his 20-year-old daughter while still firing.

KTRK identified the slain woman as Minnie Ray Seabolt, 79, from Deweyville, Texas.

Beaumont officials said police were in the middle of a shift change when the gunfire began. Officers quickly locked down the courthouse, but Granger was already in the parking lot.

According to police, Granger was involved in the shooting about 11:21 a.m. at the county courthouse. As he drove away from the courthouse, Granger began firing at officers. Officials said officers wounded Granger as he drove away from the scene.

Granger abandoned the truck outside of a building in the 1100 block of Neches. He held several people hostage inside the building before turning himself into police.

Granger was taken into custody without further incident.

The 40-year-old has a lengthy criminal history that includes convictions for possession of marijuana and unlawfully carrying a firearm.

Meanwhile, moments after a news conference about the shooting, Jefferson County deputies arrested Lyndon Granger, the brother of the alleged shooter. The reason for his arrest wasn't immediately known, KTRK reports.

Houston Chronicle reporter Dale Lezon and Beaumont Enterprise reporters Heather Nolan and Beth Rankin contributed to this report.