A gunman has been shot and killed in a SWAT standoff outside the Brevard County Courthouse, putting the building and surrounding area on lockdown, including two nearby schools.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey said deputies shot the man after he made threats outside the courthouse. The gunman was not immediately identifying, pending notification of family members.

Ivey said the Brevard County Sheriff's Office had received former intelligence on the gunman, and a relative warned law enforcement that he was "coming to do harm" at the courthouse Friday morning.

The sheriff also said the man had made previous threats of setting off bombs at the courthouse two weeks earlier. The Sheriff's Office and the FBI both interviewed the man at his home, but Ivey said nothing in that scenario gave them the ability to arrest him on any charges.

Brevard County deputies confronted the man around 10:15 a.m. Friday, before he could get inside the courthouse. The man then pulled out a handgun from a bag.

Deputies surrounded the man and kept him outside, in front of the building. During the nearly 3-hour standoff, the gunman would stand, sit and walk around, and even smoked a cigarette. But he also kept his firearm close to him.

The SWAT team took over and began trying to negotiate, but Ivey said the gunman didn't do a lot of talking, and seemed "agitated."

SWAT officers eventually got close enough to use a stun gun on the man. After that, Ivey said, the gunman responded in an aggressive manner, prompting officers to shoot and kill him.

A Sheriff's homicide unit and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement responded to the scene to investigate.

The bomb squad also investigated the man's bag, and found it empty.

The courthouse and the surrounding area were put on lockdown during the standoff, including Judge Fran Jamieson Way and Stadium Parkway. Nearby Viera High School and Viera Charter School were also locked down as a precaution.

The situation developed while jury selection continued Friday inside the courthouse in Brandon Bradley's murder trial for the shooting of Brevard County Deputy Barbara Pill. The courthouse was evacuated during the standoff, and everyone inside was led to a safe location on the other side of the building.

The courthouse was closed for the day following the standoff. Court will resume on Monday.

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Live Updates

2 p.m.

Chief Judge John Harris of the 18th Judicial Circuit, which covers Brevard and Seminole counties, called the shooting "a tragedy," but praised court deputies who were "alert, prepared and followed protocol -- enabling them to provide a rapid response to what proved to be a very dangerous situation."

"Sheriff Ivey and his officers are to be commended for containing the incident and protecting courthouse personnel and bystanders from harm,” said Judge Harris. "Their training and professionalism were evident throughout the ordeal."

1:55 p.m.

The lockdown at Viera High School and Viera Charter School will be lifted at 2 p.m.

1:35 p.m.

The Brevard County Courthouse will close for the day following the standoff.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey would not identify the gunman until deputies can notify his next of kin.

1:30 p.m.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey confirms the gunman has been shot and killed.

1:25 p.m.

SWAT team deputies are beginning to leave the scene.

1:15 p.m.

Florida Today tweets:

1:08 p.m.

Florida Today pool photographer Andrew Ford tweets:

12:50 p.m.

Several gunshots heard outside the courthouse.

12:48 p.m.

A Palm Bay police officer who was at the courthouse on business has been negotiating with the gunman.

Sheriff Ivey said deputies are trying to talk with the gunman. They have also been talking to his family, hoping to resolve the situation peacefully.

12:45 p.m.

SWAT team officers have guns drawn outside the courthouse.

Everyone inside has been evacuated to a safe location.

Deputies said they knew the gunman was coming to the courthouse Friday, and when they spotted him outside, they approached him. That was when he pulled out a handgun from his bag, and started waving the gun and yelling at the deputies.

Sheriff Ivey said he did not know why the man was currently "agitated." Deputies also do not know if there was anything else inside the man's bag besides the gun.

12:15 p.m.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey says the man has made bomb threats and threads against judges in the past, but those threats did not rise to a chargeable offense.

The man has a bag with him at the courthouse, but it remains unclear what's in the bag. Ivey described the man as "agitated."

Ivey said deputies are in the final stages of evacuating the courthouse while officers try to communicate with the gunman.

12:09 p.m.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey's media briefing is expected to begin around 12:15 p.m.

11:35 a.m.

Snipers are on the roof of the courthouse as deputies surround the armed man.

11:30 a.m.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey is preparing to address the media on the situation.

11:05 a.m.

The Brevard County Clerk of Courts' office says deputies have told employees and customers inside the office to move away from counters and windows.

11 a.m.

Deputies are blocking off Stadium Parkway and Judge Fran Jamieson Way outside the Brevard County Courthouse. Stadium Parkway is also blocked in front of nearby Viera High School.

10:35 a.m.

Viera High School and Viera Charter School, both near the Brevard County Courthouse, are on lockdown.

10:30 a.m.

Florida Today pool photgrapher Andrew Ford inside the Brevard County Courthouse reports deputies are guarding the door of the courtroom where jury selection is underway

10:25 a.m.

Our Brevard County photographer, Virgen Fantauzzi, reports a man with a gun drawn outside the Brevard County Courthouse. The man is yelling at someone. Deputies are on scene with their weapons drawn, though the armed man is not pointing his handgun at anyone.

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Live Chat during the Standoff