On a Monday morning in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the sterile halls of the Hennepin County Government Center became the backdrop for a tragedy rooted in a bitter family dispute. Shelley Joseph-Kordell, a 56-year-old White female, arrived at the courthouse on September 29, 2003, for a hearing concerning a restraining order connected to an inheritance disagreement.
The geriatric care manager, described as warm and family-centered, was accompanied by her attorney, Richard Hendrickson, as they navigated the building, reportedly with safety concerns.
The conflict stemmed from an ongoing and acrimonious legal battle over her father's estate. As they waited on the 17th floor, Joseph-Kordell made her way to a women's restroom. It was there that the simmering family tensions erupted into violence. Her cousin, 52-year-old Susan Berkovitz, who had been waiting with a loaded. 38-caliber revolver, confronted her. Inside the restroom, Berkovitz fired multiple shots, fatally wounding Joseph-Kordell. She also shot and wounded Hendrickson in the lobby area.
Following the shooting, law enforcement officers quickly responded and took Berkovitz into custody at the scene. Joseph-Kordell was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries approximately two hours later. In the aftermath of her arrest, Berkovitz reportedly stated that her cousin had brought this upon herself, alleging that she and her attorney were extorting money from her father's estate.
Susan Berkovitz was subsequently charged with first-degree murder for the death of Shelley Joseph-Kordell and attempted first-degree murder for the shooting of Richard Hendrickson. In May 2004, a jury found her guilty on both counts. Berkovitz was sentenced to life in prison for the murder and received a consecutive sentence for the attempted murder conviction. The tragic event later led to the installation of metal detectors at the Hennepin County Government Center in 2005 to enhance security.
