The man who opened fire at the federal courthouse in downtown Las Vegaswas upset about cuts to his Social Security benefits, officials saidMonday.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said66-year-old Johnny Lee Wicks was killed in a shootout with officersshortly after 8 a.m.Court records show Wicks sued the SocialSecurity Administration in 2008, but the case was thrown out andformally closed in September 2009.Wicks lived at the Sunrise Senior Village Apartments in Las Vegas.
A manager told FOX5 that federal agents had been to the complex to question him about Wicks.
Las Vegas firefighters also reported a fire in one of the apartmentMonday morning, about two hours before the shooting. Police did notimmediately say whether there was a connection to Wicks.
UPDATE: Wicks, who was black, had previously claimed racial discrimination as the reason for his Social Security cuts. Story here.
The shooting began after the gunman, dressed in black and armed with ashotgun, stormed the entrance of the Lloyd D. George Federal Building.A court security officer was killed and a deputy U.S. marshal was injured during the shootout.The gunman ran from the building as seven officers returned fire. His body was found in some bushes across the street.
Video: Courthouse Shooting Posted On YouTube