Four wounded, suspect killed in courthouse shootings

LUMPKIN, Ga. : The police chief, a county deputy and a paramedic were wounded during a shootout in this small town's courthouse square Thursday and the suspected gunman was killed during an ensuing gunbattle, authorities said.
The police chief in a nearby town also was wounded during the pursuit of the suspect.
The most seriously injured was the paramedic, who was shot in the leg after arriving at the scene to help the wounded officers, said John Bankhead, a spokesman for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The officers' injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Two people were taken into custody, but it was later determined they were hostages of the gunman. The suspected gunman fired at officers with a semiautomatic pistol and was shot and killed by police, Bankhead said.
The episode stemmed from an argument the gunman had earlier with family members, and the suspect may have opened fire on police as part of a desire to commit suicide by being killed by police, said Bankhead, citing statements from witnesses.