URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: Police Confirm Morning Shooting At Middletown City Hall (New York State); Incident Occurred Outside Courtroom; Gunman Reported Dead; Multiple Police Agencies At Scene

URGENT >> BULLETIN >> MOVING: Multiple media outlets in New York state are reporting that shots were fired this morning at Middletown City Hall, an Orange County complex that houses a courtroom.

The gunman, who reportedly was armed with a shotgun he had transported to the building on a motorcycle, reportedly was shot dead by a court officer, according to early reports.

Police have not confirmed the alleged gunman’s death, but described him as a “lone gunman” who’d been transported to a local hospital.

Early media reports suggest the gunman fired a shotgun blast toward the courtroom door, injuring at least one person and causing at least two people to be taken to the hospital to be treated for shock.

Middletown is a small city situated in the Hudson Valley.

Here is an early statement on the incident by the Middletown Police Department, which is led by Chief Ramon Bethencourt Jr:

This morning, February 8, 2012 at approximately 9:09 am, a subject entered the vestibule outside of the Middletown City Court and opened fire towards the New York State Court Officers near the entrance. The suspect is believed to be a lone gunman.

Court Officers returned fire on the suspect. One Court Officer was injured and was transported to Orange Regional Medical Center. The Court Officer did not suffer a life threatening injury.

The suspect was transported to Orange Regional Medical Center. The suspect’s name and condition will not be released at this time.

The suspect is not believed to have attempted to enter the area of Congressman Maurice Hinchey’s office, as has been reported in some media outlets.

Orange County District Attorney Francis Phillips and City of Middletown Police Chief Ramon Bethencourt will be conducting a press conference near the front steps of Middletown City Hall at 12:00pm today.

In December, a gunman opened fire at a courthouse in rural Minnesota, shooting the Cook County prosecutor.