Fulton Co. Judge shot and killed in courthouse shooting (BREAKING Fri 9A)

WAGA-TV/WSB-TV Atlanta | 3.11.05

[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.

[cajungirl]

What hit your funny bone enough to make you ignore your inner third cousin?

[ontos-on]

How in the hell did this guy ever get out of the building? He, and many more like him, should be shot during his escape attempt.

---------------------------------------

I thought when I heard the early headlines that the only way he could have gotten out of a courthouse with all that security must have been that he had hostages. But I have not heard anything like that in the coverage, and it now seems that this was the keystone cops in the Atlanta area.

The local cops make this hood seem like Jack Bauer.

[El Gato]

If they only put LE individuals BIGGER then this guy - either by height or weight or build this most likely would have been avoided completely.

Not necessarily. Speed, or more properly quickness, is probably more important in a situtation where the suspect tries to snatch the officer's weapon.

[Bonaparte]

"They all sound crazy."

Yeah, that's how it looks to me too. But what do I know? Maybe it's normal behavior for a judge to order no restraints of any kind on a defendant who is known to be a violent felon who tried to smuggle two knives into the courtroom in his shoes just the day before. Some people on this thread seem to think that's prudent behavior for a judge.

"Why is a female deputy escorting this big man alone?"

It's just a guess, but I think it arises from lack of discipline and supervision, along with runaway PC and a cavalier attitude toward the safety of the public.

Why did the prosecutor say he was "not violent" in her news conference?

Too many martinis at lunch?

Of course, everybody, including the DA, is scrambling to cover his/her backside. She won't be the only one in denial in the coming days.

She must have been smoking crack.

In Atlanta, I assume everyone I meet is on crack or drunk unless proven otherwise.

From what he did to his ex girlfriend how can a jury come back hung?

Think, "OJ Simpson and that jury in downtown LA." All it takes is one bad juror.

[El Gato]

Any one heard HOW MANY ROUNDS does this perp have in the gun? How many possible - how many spent, etc. I doubt that he has bought more ammo.

Deputies gun would have about 15 rounds. No reports he fired near that many rounds. Also he could have grabbed the spare magazine(s?) from the first deputy he shot. Plus possibly another gun and more magazines from the one he shot and killed later. I don't think we can count on him being out of ammunition. Luckily he didn't steal a police/sheriff's car, then he'd have a shotgun and maybe a for real assault rifle.

[Bonaparte]

"...having little or nothing to do with the sex of the deputy involved."

In general, who will stand the best chance in a hand-to-hand contest against a big, violent male -- a man or a woman?

[KC_for_Freedom]

Your scenario doesn't match this situation at all. They were not even *in* the courtroom when her gun was taken and she was shot. To me it sounds like a procedural and/or issued equipment problem, having little or nothing to do with the sex of the deputy involved.

Yeah, I based it on a courtroom scenario before we got additional details. In the actual situation it appears the deputy had to be in close contact with the guy and did she have to also be alone? At any rate there are procedures that could have been followed that would have had a different ending. Usually when something like this happens, there are at least three violations of safety. (1) Alone (2) with weapon, (3) Judge overlooking a smuggled weapon last week which would have justified extra caution. That about does it.

[kilowhskey]

Fox now reporting that the green Honda has been found. No other details. Reporter now going into a rehash of the day.

[higgmeister]

more details.

found in the AJC parking deck up on Marietta Street.

[Timeout]

FOX reporting the green car has been found...in the same parking garage where he stole it---or one very close by!

[Mears]

OMG----where the hell is he now?

[mhking]

WSB-TV is reporting that the green Honda has been found at Marietta and Spring Streets in downtown Atlanta, about two blocks from where it was carjacked this morning.

[Ramius]

What the--?

[mhking]

OMG----where the hell is he now?

He literally could be anywhere.

[Spktyr]

This guy is good.

Where's the best place to hide? Where they think you've already escaped from.

[groanup]

He has an agenda doesn't he that won't wait for the truth to be told before his conclusion is drawn.

I don't know what his problem is but it isn't my problem.

[Bonaparte]

"The newspaper reporter who was carjacked mentioned that the guy didn't have a shirt on."

Would you want to make a jail break in a high-jacked car while clearly wearing a jail issued shirt?

He took it off on his way to the parking deck.

One of the reasons he checked the trunk and back seat before screeching out of there, may have been to look for a jacket or shirt to wear.

[MJY1288]

How in hell did they miss that car in the very parking lot it was stolen from. Somebody screwed the pooch on this one

[surfatsixty]

sounds to me that he flipped cars immediately, and since the next one wasn't reported stolen, he's taken a hostage and a car.

Just my two cents.

[groanup]

He literally could be anywhere.

I'm beginning to believe this guy is smarter than your average joe six-pack.