Updated at 5:44 p.m. ET: TULSA, Okla. -- A sheriff's deputy and two other people were wounded after an exchange of gunfire Wednesday afternoon outside a courthouse plaza in Tulsa, police said.
Police spokesman Leland Ashley said authorities responded to a report of a person firing into the air near a gazebo between the Tulsa County Courthouse and the Tulsa City/County Library. Deputies, including the one who was wounded, exchanged gunfire with the shooter, Ashley said.
The suspect was in critical condition, Sgt. Shannon Clark told NBC News.
No names were immediately released.
Emergency Medical Services Authority Capt. Chris Stevens said one man was taken to a hospital in critical condition, one man was hospitalized in serious condition and a woman was hospitalized in fair condition. Stevens said a second women, who was not hit by gunfire, was "shaken up" and treated at the scene.
A library employee, John Fancher, told the Tulsa World he heard about three gunshots and immediately looked out his window to see a man with a gun looking around. The gunman casually sat down before deputies arrived and then turned toward them still holding the gun, Fancher said.
The deputies then shot the man, Fancher told the newspaper.
Tulsa County District Court Judges Jefferson Sellers and Rebecca Nightingale told the Tulsa World that they were in courtrooms on the seventh floor when they saw the gunfire exchange. Nightingale said the gunman fired at least two shots at the deputies, and Sellers said the deputies fired multiple rounds back at him after ordering him to drop the weapon.
Library Chief Executive Officer Gary Shaffer told The Associated Press he was returning from lunch when he saw emergency vehicles. A man who appeared to have been shot in the leg was wheeled out of the library by paramedics.
Shaffer said it was unclear if the man, who he said was unconscious, ran into the library after getting shot or if he was shot in the library. There was broken glass in the library from an apparent bullet.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for more details.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
- Racist? Texas high school apologizes for fans' 'USA!' chant
- March on pace for record number of twisters, expert says
- Family: Baby's birth saved us from tornado
- Would take 'act of God' to lose nomination, says Romney campaign
