KIMBALL, NB — A man who said he moved his family to rural Nebraska to escape violence was shot to death early Wednesday in the courthouse where he worked as a janitor.

Clinton moved with his three daughters from California, hoping for a safer life.

Police said Mark Clinton, 44, died at the Kimball County Courthouse after he was shot by Steven Redmond, who had returned to the courthouse several hours after being arrested in a bar fight.

Redmond, 46, armed with a handgun and a rifle, entered the courthouse through an open door about 5:30 a.m. and ran into Clinton, police said.

"They struggled and he pulled the trigger and shot the janitor in the back," Kimball County Sheriff Marv Jensen said.

A dispatcher inside a secure area at the courthouse saw the shooting on video monitors and called for help. Arriving officers were fired at about 10 times but none were hit. Redmond surrendered about 20 minutes later, police said.

Authorities planned to file murder charges against Redmond. Jensen says apparently Redmond and Clinton did not know each other. Authorities did not comment on a possible motive.

Clinton moved here in 1990 with his three daughters from Salinas, Calif., hoping for a safer life, said one man who knew him.

"He was from California and wanted to get away from violence," said Al Schilz, owner of a convenience store near the courthouse. "They'd been very happy out here."

Kimball, population 2,600, is in western Nebraska, about 60 miles east of Cheyenne, Wyo.

AFTERWORD:

Many years ago, there was a man in Bathsheba who asked his servant to go to market. His servant had known many years, and was faithful in service. Though his hair was white, he stood as tall as a young date tree in the autumn, whose leaves are beginning to fall, while the fruit of abundance draws to an end about it.

The servant went to market, and among the throng he saw Death, dressed in black and as pale as the moon that grows thin. Death made a gesture, and the servant grew frightened; for, although there were many people in the marketplace, who crowded to buy the things that would bring them joy while they lived, none of them heeded the lonely pair.

"I shall ride like the wind to Samarra, for it is many miles from here, and Death will not find me there."

And he ran home to his master, and he said, "Master, today I saw Death in the market amid the throng. And he made a threatening gesture to me. Master, I shall make haste and I shall ride like the wind to Samarra, for Samarra is many miles from here, and Death will not find me there."

So the servant rode away to Samarra, and his master was sorely troubled, as is the traveler in the desert who is called to the side of his dying father and his long journey draws to an end. And he went to the market and he sought out Death, whose dress was dark as the sea at night when the fisherman is lost, and his face was as pale as a grave on a frosty night.

And the master said to Death, "Why did you make a threatening gesture at my servant? He has done me good service, and is old in years."

And Death replied, "I made no threatening gesture at your servant. That was a start of surprise. For I saw him this morning in Bathsheba, but this night I was to meet him many miles away in Samarra."

Appointment in Samarra [uncredited folk tale]

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