Official: Deputy's attacker arrested at White House in March

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — A man fatally shot today after attacking a deputy sheriff at a suburban Philadelphia courthouse was arrested in March for climbing a perimeter wall at the White House, a prosecutor said.

A second deputy shot Curtis Smith, 34, after he pulled a knife and slashed the deputy in the arm and hand about 11:50 a.m. at the Chester County Justice Center, District Attorney Thomas Hogan said.

"I'm gonna get ya! I'm gonna get ya!" Smith yelled as he entered the building, according to witness Reiley Aikman.

Hogan confirmed Smith's White House arrest in a statement late this afternoon. He said a motive for the courthouse attack wasn't immediately clear.

Smith's lawyer in the White House case said they didn't discuss mental health history but that he seemed reasonable.

"He appeared like he was all there," lawyer Martin Rosendorf said. "He appeared sane."

Smith was pronounced dead at a hospital. The injured deputy was airlifted to a hospital in stable condition. His colleague was being interviewed by investigators.

The building in West Chester, about 23 miles west of downtown Philadelphia, was put on lockdown and closed to the public for the rest of the day.

No other injuries were reported.