Photos Show Barefoot Gunman in Shootout Outside of Tulsa Courthouse

(The Blaze/AP)- Three people were hit with bullets Wednesday afternoon during an exchange of gunfire outside an Oklahoma courthouse, and an employee at a nearby library caught the frightening scene on his camera.

(Caution: Graphic Images)

According to the Daily Mail, authorities responded to a report of a person firing into the air between the Tulsa County Courthouse and the library. Deputies, including the one who was wounded, exchanged gunfire with the shooter, police said.

Injuries to the deputy and the bystander did not appear life-threatening, though the deputy was shot in both arms. No names were immediately released.

Emergency medical personnel said one man was taken to a hospital in critical condition and that two others were hospitalized -- one in serious and one in fair condition.

John Fancher, a communications coordinator with the library, told The Associated Press that he heard gunshots and then raced to a nearby window to capture the scene on his camera. 

"I see a guy barefoot nonchalantly just waving a gun in the air," Fancher said.

"I'm thinking this is not the downtown I remember working in. I start snapping off some shots and he sits down, just casually sits down, gun in his hand and three sheriff's come out of the courthouse and I can't hear what they're saying."

Fancher said the man turned around and stood up with his gun.

"That's when (the deputies) did what they had to do," he added.

Library Chief Executive Officer Gary Shaffer was returning from his lunch break when he saw a man with a leg wound being wheeled out of the library. 

Shaffer said it wasn't clear at the scene whether the suspect was wounded and tried to escape into the library, or if he was shot while trying to hide in the library.

Two Tulsa County District Court Judges said they were in courtrooms on the seventh floor when they saw the gunfire exchange. They told reporters the gunman fired at least two shots at the deputies, and deputies fired multiple rounds back only after ordering him to drop the weapon.

Police are still investigating a motive.