Former TSA agent storms courthouse armed with rifles, homemade bombs and smoke grenades and shoots deputy before he is killed by officers

Suspect: Dennis Marx was shot dead as he arrived at court with an assault rifleDaily Mail – by JESSICA JERREAT

A former TSA employee, armed with homemade bombs and an assault rifle, was shot dead on Friday as he tried to enter an Atlanta, Georgia courthouse.

Dennis Marx, a self-proclaimed Sovereign Citizen, is believed to have been plotting to take hostages at the courthouse, where he had been due to attend a hearing on drug and weapons charges.

Deputy Daniel Rush, who was shot in the leg by the gunman, is being hailed a hero after he prevented Marx from gaining access to the building.  

Marx, who had links to an anti-government group, had arrived at the court building wearing a bullet proof vest and gas mask, and carrying weapons.

When he pulled up in his car, the 48-year-old threw out spiked stop strips to prevent vehicles from reaching him.

Deputy Daniel Rush confronted Marx, who was shot dead as he approached Forsyth County court at 9am ET.

Before he was shot dead, Marx shot through his windshield, striking Deputy Rush in the lower leg. He also let off smoke grenades and pepper spray.

Deputy Rush, who is being treated in hospital for his injuries, has been hailed a hero for stopping what police believe was an attempted hostage situation.

Danger: Dennis Marx, seen in this undated photo, had arrived at the court building wearing a bullet proof vest and gas mask, and carrying weapons

Danger: Dennis Marx, seen in this undated photo, had arrived at the court building wearing a bullet proof vest and gas mask, and carrying weapons

Hero: Deputy Daniel Rush is credited with saving the day by confronting Marx before he could reach the court

Hero: Deputy Daniel Rush is credited with saving the day by confronting Marx before he could reach the court

Saving the day: Rush reportedly stopped what police believe was an attempted hostage situation

Saving the day: Rush reportedly stopped what police believe was an attempted hostage situation

Search: Members of a SWAT team swarm over the courthouse after the confrontation with Marx on Friday

Search: Members of a SWAT team swarm over the courthouse after the confrontation with Marx on Friday

Blocked off: Police cordon off roads surrounding the court house as detectives search for explosives

Blocked off: Police cordon off roads surrounding the court house as detectives search for explosives

Forsyth County Sheriff Duane Piper said Marx had arrived at the courthouse armed with an assault rifle, homemade explosives, water supplies and zip ties.

‘He came for the purpose of occupying the courthouse,’ Sheriff Piper told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

‘It would be a guess to think how many lives [the deputy] saved had he not engaged him right there.

‘Mr Marx’s intention was to get inside that front door and to take hostages.’

‘We don’t know who he was coming to the courthouse for, but with the flex ties and the restraining devices he had with him … we have to assume that he was there to occupy the courthouse.’

Sheriff Piper described the attempted attack as a ‘frontal assault’ on the court house, and said Marx and Deputy Rush were involved in a gun fight before Marx died.

‘From the video, it looks like [Marx] saw that deputy, swerved to try and run over the deputy. The deputy engaged him. He was shooting at Mr Marx in the vehicle, Mr Marx was shooting through the windshield at the deputy,’ Sheriff Piper added.

Quick thinking: Deputy Rush was shot in the lower leg as he confronted Marx when the gunman headed towards the court building

Quick thinking: Deputy Rush was shot in the lower leg as he confronted Marx when the gunman headed towards the court building

Road block: Police use their cars to block access to the courtroom

Road block: Police use their cars to block access to the courtroom

A woman who had been acting as Marx’s attorney in his forthcoming drug and weapons case, told WSB-TV she had withdrawn from his case yesterday.

She claimed she had asked the 48-year-old gun trader to undergo a psychological evaluation, but that he refused.

A SWAT team that had been on its way to a different call, were able to reach the courthouse quickly and secure the area.

Ann Shafer, another attorney due to represent Marx at his drug hearing, said he had been due in court this morning, but failed to turn up.

After waiting 40 minutes for her client, who she described as ‘slightly unstable’, Shafer left by the back exit, and heard the gun shots.

‘I feel very lucky that I walked out the back of the courthouse instead of the front,’ she told 11 Alive, adding that she immediately suspected Marx was behind the gunfire.

Bomb-sniffing dogs have been brought to the crime scene over concerns that an explosive device could have been planted near the building.

Response: Heavily armed members of the Sheriff's department clear the scene after Deputy Rush was shot in the leg

Response: Heavily armed members of the Sheriff’s department clear the scene after Deputy Rush was shot in the leg

Stopped: Stop strips that Dennis Marx threw on to the road can be seen to the right. Marx, who was wearing a bullet proof vest, was shot dead

Stopped: Stop strips that Dennis Marx threw on to the road can be seen to the right. Marx, who was wearing a bullet proof vest, was shot dead

Marx was known to police, who said that his links to Sovereign Citizen groups had made them wary that a bomb may have been left.

He worked for the Transportation Security Administration for at least a year, from 2002, an official told CNN.

Deputies are also searching for explosives and booby traps at the house Marx had been living in for the past ten days.

A no-fly zone has been put in effect near his Cummings residence, and explosives specialists have not yet entered the house, which police have described as ‘a bomb’.

The Sovereign Citizen movement he claimed to be a part of began in the 1970s, and is made up of groups who believe all branches of the U.S. government are illegal.

Some members have been linked to the murder of police officers.

Marx had previously tried to make an official Second Amendment Complaint against Forsyth County sheriff’s office and SWAT teams.

In court documents filed in August last year, Marx made ‘sweeping’ allegation against members of the police force over their use of search warrants, ‘Yet he does not allege a specific example to support this claim or any of his other claims’.

After the shooting, surrounding buildings and a nearby construction site around the Atlanta courthouse were evacuated, and a police officer could be seen patrolling the roof of the courthouse.

Relief: An officer is hugged as he attends the scene of the shooting outside the courthouse

Relief: An officer is hugged as he attends the scene of the shooting outside the courthouse

Investigation: The sheriff's department searched the area around the courthouse, above, and the home of Marx who was suspected of leaving explosive devices

Investigation: The sheriff’s department searched the area around the courthouse, above, and the home of Marx who was suspected of leaving explosive devices

Shooting: Police cars surround Atlanta courthouse on Friday morning after a masked gunman shot a sheriff's deputy

Shooting: Police cars surround Atlanta courthouse on Friday morning after a masked gunman shot a sheriff’s deputy

Abandoned: A SUV with three of its doors open was spotted at the steps of the courthouse shortly after the shooting

Abandoned: A SUV with three of its doors open was spotted at the steps of the courthouse shortly after the shooting

An abandoned SUV, with three of its doors open, could be seen in aerial footage of the courthouse. It appeared as if it had driven across a flower bed before coming to a stop. It is not yet clear if it is connected to the incident.

Deputy Rush, who has served on the force for 25 years, was taken to hospital for a gunshot wound to his lower leg.

A few hours after the shooting he posted a message on Facebook stating simply: ‘I am ok.’

He has been praised widely for his actions in quickly bringing to an end what could have been a potentially devastating situation.

Friends, family and supporters took to social media sites to thank Deputy Rush for his selfless actions, and to wish him a speedy recovery.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2650822/Deputy-shot-leg-gas-mask-wearing-gunman-tried-courthouse-armed-assault-rifle-carrying-smoke-grenade.html#ixzz33uugctUn
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21 thoughts on “Former TSA agent storms courthouse armed with rifles, homemade bombs and smoke grenades and shoots deputy before he is killed by officers

  1. A family member who contacted 11Alive stressed that Marx was not a convicted felon. The family member, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, admitted that Marx had marijuana in his possession, but said “he used it to self-medicate.”

    “He’s a working man,” the family member saild. “He did not need to sell pot. It was for his personal use because no amount of medication gave him relief.

    Marx had numerous injuries from motor vehicle accidents, the family member said.

    The family member denied claims that Marx was a gun dealer.

    “He was an avid gun collector,” the family member said. “He did not deal in weapons.”

    The family member said Marx had no background in making explosives.

    Marx 49th birthday would have been next week, the family member said.

    http://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/cumming/2014/06/06/dennis-marx-courthouse-shooting/10104641/

  2. “A former TSA employee, armed with homemade bombs and an assault rifle, was shot dead on Friday as he tried to enter an Atlanta, Georgia courthouse.

    Dennis Marx, a self-proclaimed Sovereign Citizen, is believed to have been plotting to take hostages at the courthouse, where he had been due to attend a hearing on drug and weapons charges.”

    A former TSA employee, yet they immediately push that aside by saying that he was a part of a “Sovereign Citizen” group. Since when is a TSA person a radical? I’m confused. If this truly was a former TSA person, this is pure proof as to why they DON’T NEED GUNS and why we DON’T NEED THEM, PERIOD!

    However, I’m sure the media will say he was fired for being too radical and that he wasn’t a normal TSA person and that his views should not be perceived to be the same views as the TSA in general. BULLSHIT!

    “Deputy Daniel Rush, who was shot in the leg by the gunman, is being hailed a hero after he prevented Marx from gaining access to the building.

    Marx, who had links to an anti-government group, had arrived at the court building wearing a bullet proof vest and gas mask, and carrying weapons.

    When he pulled up in his car, the 48-year-old threw out spiked stop strips to prevent vehicles from reaching him.”

    This story stinks worse than the corn in my crap. Bullet proof vest, gas mask and carrying weapons. Sounds like Aurora theater all over again.

    And what’s with this “spiked stop strips”? How the hell did the deputy have time to see this, then go back into his office or his car to find some spiked strips (probably 3 whole minutes to do that) in which the shooter would have easily had more than enough time to go into the courthouse and start shooting up the place? Do you expect me or anyone else to believe that the shooter just waited for this deputy to roll out the spiked carpet before starting to shoot at him and others? Does this make any sense to anyone or am I just reading that report wrong?

  3. Looks to me like a sovereign national got fed up with the communist government and took action. I look for this kind of retribution to accelerate as time goes on. The war is on brethren. We shall prevail. God bless the republic.

        1. Well, that leaves us with deciding who’s first and most deserving. Then we must decide who’s second to counterbalance the double noosed hemp rope and the entertainment can be enjoyed with popcorn and your favorite beverage. 🙂

  4. Amazing how this happened after they passed that Georgia gun legislation. Oh yea and isn’t this a “GUN FREE ZONE”? Imagine that. AGAIN!

  5. this sounds to good to be true, no Sovereign Citizen would load up all that gear and walk in to a courthouse to get killed, have you been in a courthouse lately its like walking into a snake pit. A crazy TSA person maybe?

  6. “Before he was shot dead, Marx shot through his windshield, striking Deputy Rush in the lower leg. He also let off smoke grenades and pepper spray.”

    Smoke grenades and PEPPER SPRAY???

    You don’t bring a knife to a gunfight. And those two don’t even qualify as a knife against guns.

    “Marx, who had links to an anti-government group,…”

    Define ‘links’.

    This b#tch reeks.

  7. “Dennis Marx, a self-proclaimed Sovereign Citizen, is believed to have been plotting to take hostages at the courthouse, where he had been due to attend a hearing on drug and weapons charges.”

    Let me rephrase that first part. “Dennis Marx, a MKUltra victim that volunteered for the program under the guise of ‘Special Training’ was conditioned and activated and is believed,…”

    I know Sovereign American Nationals and none of them would ever use the term ‘Sovereign Citizen’, ever. The term citizen implies a subordinate and cannot coexist with the word sovereign in ANY context when joined together as ‘sovereign citizen’. You cannot be an independently free slave. It’s like saying you’re the king of your prison cell.

    This guy stinks of mind control.

  8. You should look up the picture that is posted in the Forsyth County courthouse of the purposed and currently under construction new courthouse. It can also be found online on Wakefield Beasley & Associates website. There are two gunmen and one shadow figure in the panorama. I am not kidding.

  9. And here it is… Hidden in plain view, I would say. I don’t know how it all ties together but the person who submitted it to the company’s page is an employee of Wakefield Beasley & Associates with vast integration with FEMA, Homeland Security and various other Federal Government affiliations. Her name is Brookelyn Crenshaw.

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