Rescuers and police help an injured victim from Milan's top court on Thursday. The building was evacuated after a shootout in which three people, including 75-year old judge Fernando Ciampi, were killed, according to sources. Many fled the building as shots were heard and police told others inside to leave shortly afterwards. [Photo/IC]

MILAN - A defendant opened fire during a hearing at the courthouse in Italy's Milan on Thursday, killing three people, including a bankruptcy judge, and injuring two.

Claudio Giardiello, who was facing a fraudulent bankruptcy lawsuit in the crack-up of his real estate company, fired a total of 13 gunshots on the third and second floor of the courthouse.

He first shot dead his former lawyer, 37-year-old Lorenzo Alberto Claris Appiani, as well as a co-defendant, Giorgio Erba, in the courtroom where they were attending a hearing.

Then he went down to the second floor where he killed bankruptcy judge Fernando Ciampi in his office.

Another co-defendant in the case and relative of Erba, Davide Limongelli, was injured in the shooting along with a lawyer who was hit in the leg. The former was reported to be in serious conditions.

Giardiello was arrested by police some 30 km away from the courthouse while trying to reach on his motorbike another possible victim, a former business partner, authorities told a press conference.

"He was ready to kill other people," Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said.