By Annie Knox
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY — A U.S. marshal shot and critically wounded a defendant on Monday in a new federal courthouse after the man rushed the witness stand with a pen at his trial in Salt Lake City, authorities said.
Defendant Siale Angilau was hospitalized with at least one chest wound, FBI spokesman Mark Dressen said. The witness wasn’t hurt.
Angilau was one of 17 people named in a 29-count racketeering indictment filed in 2008 accusing gang members of conspiracy, assault, robbery and weapons offenses.
Angilau was the last defendant in the case to stand trial, U.S. attorney’s office spokeswoman Melodie Rydalch said.
Angilau’s attorneys, Michael Langford and Mark Kittrell, did not immediately respond to messages.
The new $185 million federal courthouse opened a week ago in downtown Salt Lake City next door to the century-old federal courthouse.
The case was being heard in U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell’s courtroom.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press