Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 6, 1993 TAG: 9308060140
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: TOPEKA, KAN. LENGTH: Medium
The gunman died about an hour later when explosives strapped to his body detonated, perhaps accidentally, FBI Agent Brian Carroll said.
At least three other people were seriously injured in the blast.
Authorities didn't know until about six hours later that the man was dead, and nine people spent the time hiding in locked offices.
Two judges and their staffs also took cover after the initial gunfire but escaped down stairs out of the gunman's sight.
The body of Jack Gary McKnight, 37, was found just inside the District Court clerk's office on the fourth floor of the Frank Carlson Federal Building.
SWAT team members didn't immediately disturb the body, and kept the building under heavy guard Thursday night while it was checked to see if McKnight had set other explosives before going to the clerk's office.
McKnight, of nearby Meriden, was to be sentenced on drug and weapons charges Thursday.
The FBI said McKnight apparently blew up his truck outside the Jefferson County courthouse in Oskaloosa northeast of Topeka at about 8:30 a.m. and then drove to Topeka in a car he blew up in the federal building parking lot at about 9:30 a.m.
Jackie Williams, U.S. attorney for Kansas, said McKnight apparently began firing weapons as soon as the elevator doors opened on the fourth floor. Carroll said McKnight also tossed pipe bombs, causing at least three or four explosions inside the building.
It wasn't immediately clear what McKnight did during the next hour. At one point, Williams said, one of the court clerks approached McKnight and he told her, "You're not the one that I'm looking for."
About that time, Williams said, the explosives strapped to McKnight's body blew up. At least three women who worked in the clerk's office were injured by the detonation. c
by CNB