About 75 shots were fired in the attack late Saturday, said David Duke, Moscow's assistant police chief. Duke said the attack was apparently an ambush, with the shooter firing into the Latah County Courthouse to lure people into the line of fire.

"Whoever the shooter is wanted to draw people to the courthouse," Duke said. "When officers responded, he did open fire on them."

A Moscow police officer was shot first, followed by a Latah County sheriff's deputy who came to his aid. A civilian was struck after that, Duke said.

Police do not believe the shooter had a specific target in mind, Duke said.

"He was just shooting at anybody he could," Duke said. "We believe the shots were from a high area, based on where the victims were shot."

Police declined to release the condition of the people who had been shot, and few details were immediately available.

Duke said the victims were shot with automatic weapons fire.

Police initially said two civilians had been shot, but corrected that after learning that one civilian had been injured elsewhere.

Officers surrounded the First Presbyterian Church, which is near the courthouse and nestled in a heavily residential neighborhood near downtown and Moscow High School. Duke said they were preparing a plan for ending the standoff.

Streets in the area have been barricaded and residents have been told to stay inside their homes. Many residents told news media that they heard the hail of bullets, and some said they witnessed the shooting of the officers.

A caretaker lives in the church, but Duke said police have had no contact with that person since the incident started.

The incident began around 11 p.m. Saturday, when someone began shooting at the courthouse, Duke said. The courthouse, which includes the sheriff's office, was evacuated, Duke said.

More than 30 shots were fired into the sheriff's dispatch center, but no one was injured, he said.

The final shot from inside the church was heard about 1 a.m., Duke said.

Officers have had no contact with the person in the church, he said.