A 68-year-old man has been charged with shooting a federal court security officer outside a federal courthouse in Phoenix on Tuesday.
The officer, a contractor deputized by the U.S. Marshals Service, was struck after three rounds were fired from a vehicle around 11:30 a.m. as the officer worked outside the Sandra Day O’Connor U.S. Courthouse.
The officer, who was wearing body armor, was struck in the chest and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The guard reportedly was released from the hospital Wednesday and is recovering at home.
The suspect, who was found by family members after the shooting, has been identified by the FBI as James Lee Carr, 68, and faces two counts related to the alleged assault on a federal officer.
A criminal complaint says that Carr's son told authorities he has mental health issues.
The guard was working outside and heard someone say "hey" before the driver of a silver Cadillac fired three shots from a handgun, according to court documents. The guard returned fire and the car fled.
A suspected motive is not spelled out in the criminal complaint, but Carr called his brother and "indicated he wanted to die because he shot the security guard," according to an FBI affidavit in the criminal complaint.
Carr's son and ex-wife found him sitting in a park dressed in a suit with a revolver and rifle next to him, according to the complaint.
Carr's son moved the guns away and they called 911. Police arrived and arrested Carr, the complaint says. The son allegedly told authorities his father said he snapped and shot the guard because the guard was harassing him.
Carr was in federal custody Wednesday, the FBI said. Federal online court records did not list an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
