On a tragic summer day in Saint-Joseph, Michigan, the community was shaken by a violent outburst that claimed the life of a dedicated public servant. Joseph Peter Zangaro, a 61-year-old male, was killed on July 11, 2016, during a shooting incident at the Berrien County Courthouse. Zangaro, who was the head of courthouse security, was a retired Michigan State Police post commander with a long and respected career in law enforcement.
The events of that day unfolded when an inmate, Larry
Darnell Gordon, 44, was being escorted from a holding cell. Gordon managed to disarm a sheriff's deputy and opened fire in an attempt to escape. The chaos that ensued resulted in the deaths of Zangaro and another bailiff, Ronald Kienzle, 63, who was also a retired police officer. A deputy sheriff and a civilian were also injured during the rampage. Gordon had been facing a multitude of felony charges that could have resulted in a life sentence, a factor believed to have motivated his desperate and violent escape attempt.
The suspect, Larry Darnell Gordon, had a history of criminal activity. At the time of the shooting, he was facing serious charges, including kidnapping and multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct involving a teenage girl. According to reports, Gordon briefly took hostages within the courthouse before being confronted by other court officers who returned fire, ultimately killing him at the scene.
The investigation that followed confirmed that Gordon acted alone in his attempt to flee custody. As the perpetrator was killed during the incident, there were no subsequent arrests or trials in connection with the deaths of Joseph Zangaro and Ronald Kienzle. The community mourned the loss of the two highly respected bailiffs who died in the line of duty, protecting the courthouse and its occupants.
