Prosecutor: Courthouse shooter held 17-year-old for 2 weeks

The Berrien County Prosecutor's Office released information regarding the charges Larry Gordon was facing when he killed two bailiffs, shot a deputy and a member of the public at the courthouse on Monday.

Larry Gordon had a warrant out for his arrest on a domestic violence charge.

After several attempts to execute the warrant, officers from the Coloma Township Police Department located Gordon inside a shed at his residence on Tannery Road on April 20.

When officers approached the shed, Gordon barricaded himself inside, then escaped through a back access door.

Using a tracking dog, Gordon was located several streets away, under a porch. He resisted exiting from under the porch. He was eventually arrested.

Inside the shed, officers found a 17-year-old girl who had been held against her will for approximately 2 weeks, according to the prosecutor's office.

Gordon allegedly gave her methamphetamine in exchange for sex, sexually assaulted her and assaulted her with weapons and attempted to strangle her.

The prosecutor's office says he also recorded the sexual activity.

Gordon was charged with

• Five counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree, a life maximum;
• One count of kidnapping, a life maximum;
• Three counts of production of child sexually abusive material, a 20 year maximum;
• Possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a 20 year maximum;
• One count of criminal sexual conduct in the 3rd degree, a 15 year maximum;
• One count of unlawful imprisonment, a 15 year maximum;
• Two counts of assault by strangulation, a 10 year maximum;
• One count of assault with a dangerous weapon, a 4 year maximum;
• Two counts of resisting and obstructing a police officer, 2 year maximums; and
• Misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana
• Misdemeanor charge of malicious destruction of building.
• He was supplemented as a 4th habitual offender.

This investigation led officers to investigate a similar incident involving similar conduct with a 16-year-old victim in 2006 in Berrien County. Gordon had not yet been charged in that matter.

On the day of the shooting, Gordon was in court on the original domestic violence charge, a misdemeanor. That charge was going to be dismissed in court on the day of the shootings.

If he had been convicted, Gordon was facing between 18 and 62 years minimum.

Gordon had previously been convicted of:

• 1992 a federal conviction for possession of pipe bomb;
• 1998 in Barry County, fleeing and eluding 3rd degree;
• 1998 a federal conviction for possession of pipe bomb;
• 2002 a federal conviction for felon in possession of a firearm;
• 2013 in Berrien County, larceny in a building.