Delaware courthouse shooting: Gunman killed wife and 1 other, wounds 2 police officers before being shot dead

A gunman has killed his estranged wife and one other woman and wounded two security guards when he opened fire inside a Delaware courthouse this moing.

The man, thought to be in his late 20s or early 30s, was shot dead by Capitol Police after the rampage in the New Castle Courthouse in Wilmington, Delaware.

Two police officers who were guarding the entrance to the courthouse were wounded. Their injuries are not life-threatening.

Lock-down: SWAT officers forced everyone to stay in the courthouse while they cleared the building room-by-room to ensure no other shooters were inside

NBC Philadelphia reports that the man opening fire into the lobby of the courthouse where people had lined up to pass through metal detectors to enter the main part of the building. The shooting occurred about 8.10am.

Shell casings littered the floor of the courthouse and several bullet holes could be seen in the glass revolving door that leads into the courthouse.

Defense attoey Brian Chapman told the TV station that the courthouse is guarded by eight to ten Capitol Police officers throughout the day and that security is tight in the courthouse.

Anyone who tries to enter to the building must pass through one of the metal detectors and cell phones are not even allowed inside.

However a small waiting room allows people to gather inside before passing through security. That is where the shooting took place.

Secured: The New Castle County Courthouse has rows of metal detectors and up to ten security guards. However, the gunmen opened fire in a lobby while people were waiting to pass through security

A police SWAT team locked down the courthouse and was clearing the building room-by-room to ensure no other gunmen were present.

A bomb squad and federal agents were also called to the scene as a precaution.

Courthouse employees were trapped inside and told to stay in their hiding places before being allowed out of the building.

Five nearby school have been locked down as the shocked city leaed of the news.

Wilmington, Delaware's largest city, has a population of 70,000.