Courthouse Shooting Has Many Stunned

Police say an attorney was gunned down today on a public walkway outside the Van Nuys courthouse by a client who was upset that he was drawing his salary from the man´s trust fund.

The dramatic shooting was captured by television crews who were gathered outside the courthouse to film actor Robert Blake as he emerged from a hearing in his murder case.

Television footage showed the victim, 53-year-old private attorney Jerry Curry of Simi Valley, hiding behind a tree as suspect William Striler pointed a revolver at him and fired multiple shots.

Curry staggered from behind the tree, bleeding from the face, and held up his hands before collapsing in the street. Striler walked calmly by the crowd of stunned reporters before being tackled by an off-duty sheriff´s reserve officer.

Striler was taken into custody for assault with a deadly weapon. Curry is in stable condition at Providence Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills. Police say the shooting had no connection to the Blake hearing. The actor had been escorted down the same walkway 30 minutes before the shooting.