Posted on 03/11/2005 6:39:06 AM PST by mhking
This is a breaking news situation.
A man entered a courtroom in the Fulton County Courthouse this morning and shot a Fulton County Sheriff's deputy, a clerk and a judge; there are reports from both WSB and WAGA, the judge is deceased.
The perp has carjacked multiple vehicles -- now on his third -- and is still at large.
I've just come from downtown Atlanta, and the city is a madhouse.
One of the reasons I never carried a baton on the job (female prison guard), was because there was always the possibility that he (inmate) could take it away and use it on me, and also because I didn't feel I was proficient enough to warrant carrying it.
Well, I have no doubt that I knew him. I was the DA in Ardmore.
LOL That was a really good one. I've been watching on Fox and though I wasn't listening all that closely, it seemed that Ollie North was really giving it to Sen. Graham from your state and Graham seemed to have a lot of trouble speaking. Is he always like that?
My guess is his adrenalin is down and he is really beside himself. Suicide may be his option, he may be too tired to have a shoot out.
Budget constraints or no budget constraints, this just does not make sense. When I worked at the federal courthouse, when we had a big trial with dangerous defendants, we had marshals watching the marshals who were watching the defendants, plus a marshal for the judge, plus one who walked with us law clerks when we had to go in and out of the courtroom . . .
WE're thinking on the same line....He has about 12 round left of amo....Let's hope he doesn't use them.
You have to outlaw things when they get out of hand.
Sorry! Couldn't resist.
But seriously, these days any 1st cousins so inclined in Louisiana can just go over to Texas.
He may also have planted some "missinformation", since more than likely the perp is watching/listening to the local news. (and not freeping)
The courtroom must have been stuffy with all those marshals and guards all watching everyone. Could you breathe will all that.
Yep, what can I say? He's a democrat!
But I was only trying to help the poor thing, God love her!
If we're right...and I'd bet we are...he left Atlanta in the rearview mirror before noon. He'd be about....eek! in Mobile! I'll be right back. Gotta get my baseball bat out.
Deputy Cynthia Hall had shooting suspect Brian Nichols in a holding area on the eighth floor of the Justice Center Tower in downtown Atlanta. Nichols was changing his jail clothes to his street clothes to appear before Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes in his rape case.
Before Hall was able to handcuff Nichols after he had changed, Thompson said, he grabbed the deputy's gun and shot her and grabbed her keys. Nichols needed the keys to leave the the hold room, which was between courtrooms 8A and 8B in the newest part of the courthouse.
Didn't the perp get a radio from the deputy. He may be listening. And he got a reporter's car, may have a scanner.
Your tax dollars at work.
I'm thinking of a big drug trafficking trial in particular. The clerk set up metal detectors at the front and side doors to the courtroom. IIRC, there were six defendants. Each one was assigned two marshals - one for close contact, one to keep an eye on the defendant from a distance. No spectators were allowed in the courtroom - just the court staff, the U.S. Attorneys, the defendants and their lawyers. Trial lasted for eight weeks, we were glad to see the whole lot of them go. I honestly don't remember who got convicted and who didn't . . .
My judge (now retired) had a .44 Magnum under the bench and several other firearms in his office.
The newsconference...may have been a "BAGHDAD BOB" they're nowhere around conference......
Damn, that made me sick to my stomach.
What a rancid jury...I hope they all become victimized. Yes, I know that is evil, but I don't care...some people deserve it.
What was a single deputy WITH a gun AND the keys doing ALONE with a violent perp when the prosecutors had requested EXTRA security?
That violates not only any police procedure I have ever heard of, but also basic common sense.
We can only hope they are playing it that smart.
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