Updated

Police say a federal employee is dead after shooting himself inside the city's main federal court building in Birmingham.

Sgt. Johnny Williams says an unidentified worker pulled out a weapon and shot himself once in the head about 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

Williams said the man carried a gun inside a clerk's office on the first floor and shot himself.  The man was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later.

Peter Montgomery, a witness inside the courthouse, told FOX6 News he heard a gunshot from inside a clerk's office on the first floor. Moments later, he saw an elderly man with blood pouring from his head.

Montgomery said security told everyone to stay down.

Williams says the shooting occurred in a first-floor clerk's office. He says the man apparently was able to get the weapon inside because he worked in the building, where visitors are normally required to go through metal detectors.

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