Iowa retiree killed in courthouse after taking a shot at tax assessor

MAQUOKETA, Iowa, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- A retired city manager who took a shot at a tax assessor in an Iowa courthouse died from a gunshot wound during a struggle with a county supervisor, police said.

Francis "Gus" Glaser, 71, the former city manager of Maquoketa, the seat of Jackson County, attended the board of supervisors meeting Tuesday morning. He was told after a nasty argument that he would have to discuss his property tax dispute with the assessor, Deb Lane, officials said.

As Lane left the room, Glaser took a gun from his briefcase and fired at her, missing her.

Supervisor Larry "Buck" Koos and others at the meeting struggled with Glaser. Glaser's gun discharged, killing him, Maquoketa Police Chief Brad Koranda said.

Koranda said the lethal shot was clearly fired by Glaser because he still had his finger on the trigger. But he said investigators were unsure if the shot was accidental or intentional.

Koos suffered cuts and scratches from a glass door.

Jackson County is a rural area on the Mississippi River. Sheriff Russ Kettmann said the courthouse does not use metal detectors at its entrances, although wands are sometimes used to screen attendees at trials.

Kettmann said as far as he knows Tuesday's incident was the first at the courthouse involving a gun.