ATLANTA -- A Fulton County, Ga., judge was fatally wounded and at least three others were shot Friday at the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta before the shooter fled from the scene and carjacked a car.
A police officer said that a judge, two deputies and a court clerk were shot.
The shooting victims were rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment. Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor confirmed that Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes and his court reporter were killed. He gave no other details in announcing the deaths in the state Senate.
Atlanta TV station WSB-TV identifies the judge shot today as Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes. Rowland Barnes was pronounced dead after he was transported to the hospital for treatment, according to Atlanta TV station WSB.
A reporter for the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution was also injured during the incident, WSB reported. Authorities said the reporter, identified as Don O'Briant, was pistol-whipped and assaulted while the suspect was trying to get away. The reporter was taken to the hospital but his condition was not immediately available. The suspect apparently fled in the reporter's car, described as a green Honda Accord with a tag of 658 4YN.
Authorities said the shooter grabbed a gun from a deputy inside the courthouse before opening fire. WSB reported that the shooter held the people in the courthouse hostage during the incident.
The shootings happened just after 9 a.m. on the eighth floor inside the Fulton County Courthouse in downtown Atlanta.
The suspect then fled to a nearby parking garage and attempted to carjack two people. The assailant managed to get the vehicle from a third victim before leaving the area.
Police have shut down several streets in the area while they looked for the suspect.
Police have identified the suspect as Brian Nichols. Nichols is 33 years old, 210 pounds and is 6 feet 1 inch tall, according to WSB.
Authorities were searching for Nichols, who allegedly tried to carjack two vehicles while trying to get away. He fled the courthouse and is believed to be traveling in a stolen car, police said.
WSB-TV said Nichols was in court for a rape trial. Attorney Renee Rockwell said that Nichols is accused of kidnapping, raping and sodomizing his fiance. She said that Nichols' first trial ended in a hung jury. Rockwell said that if convicted, Nichols could have gone to jail for life. Rockwall said she was outside the courthouse when the incident happened. She said she saw a deputy chasing the suspect when the gunman turned and opened fire, wounding the deputy.
A witness told CNN that the man fired more shots after leaving the courthouse.
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Slideshow: Atlanta Courthouse Shooting 
