[Faline]

This is the dash cam of Officer from Van Buren Police Department responding to the shots fired call at the Crawford County Courthouse on September 13, 2011.

[vulturedoors]

These cops are well-trained. They stayed cool in a crazy situation. Good job, guys.

[kellyhound]

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[kellyhound]

Authorities have identified a man who opened fire at an Arkansas courthouse, wounding the secretary of the judge he went to see before exchanging gunfire with law enforcement officers.

Fort Smith Police Sgt. Daniel Grubbs says 48-year-old James Ray Palmer of Kibler was killed.



Crawford County Coroner Pam Wells said the man had died at a Fort Smith hospital about two hours after shooting at the Crawford County Courthouse in Van Buren began.

Police have said the man went to the courthouse to speak to Arkansas Circuit Judge Gary Cottrell. Officers say that when Cottrell's receptionist told him the judge wasn't there, the suspect produced a weapon.

The judge's secretary tried to flee but was shot in the leg. She was taken to an area hospital.

Eyewitnesses inside the courtroom described the scene.

"It just felt like it lasted forever, but I'm going to say the bullets really probably about 10 to 15 minutes," said Dymonde Inthavong. "Just nothing but shots and we were just all so scared and screaming and it was the most horrifying sound I've ever heard in my life."

"A bang come on our front door of our office and it was one of the girl's from down the hall out of the judge's office and she was screaming that they'd been shot and she wanted in," said Sharon Blout. "She needed help."

Palmer didn't have a criminal history. Police told that they believe the shooting stemmed from Palmer's 2008 divorce and custody battle with Judge Cottroll presided over.

Officials says Palmer texted a family member before the shooting saying he was going to commit suicide.

Crawford County Sheriff Ron Brown says they only use metal detectors for high profile cases and Palmer made it inside without a problem.

"We could have had four armed guards at the front door and this guy was going to fight it out," Brown said. "He was on a mission."