Three killed in courthouse shooting in US state of Delaware

WASHINGTON - Three people including the gunman were killed in a shooting at a Delaware county courthouse on Monday morning, local police said.

A gunfight broke out in the lobby of the New Castle County courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware around 8 a.m. local time, which ended up with three deaths and two injuries, said Delaware State Police Sergeant Paul Shavack.

The suspected gunman and two women were dead, with one female victim yet to be confirmed as the gunman's wife, said Shavack.

Wilmington Mayor Dennis Williams said earlier that police killed the gunman.

Initial investigation showed that the gunman walked into the lobby of the courthouse, began shooting and was confronted by the police.

The incident took place as the police chief of Wilmington was scheduled to be in Philadelphia to attend a roundtable discussion about gun safety the same day.

US President Barack Obama is currently seeking public support for his package of gun control agenda and pushing for Congress to move on the long-time divisive issue.

Days ahead of his second-term inauguration, Obama unveiled a sweeping package of gun violence reduction proposals, a month after the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting. The December massacre that killed 26 people including 20 schoolchildren has rekindled a nationwide debate on gun control.