On this date in 2005, Brian Nichols, the defendant in a rape case in Atlanta, overpowered the deputy assigned to guard him and took her gun. Nichols then went on a shooting spree that left four people dead. He was arrested after police received a tip from Ashley Smith, a woman Nichols had held hostage for seven hours after escaping from the court house.
After multiple delays, Nichols was tried on 54 criminal counts in October 2008. The jury found him guilty on all counts. He received multiple life sentences, with no possibility for parole.
Further reading:
About.com – Brian Nichols: Atlanta Courthouse Killer
Wikipedia – Brian Nichols
Nobody Move! 
John D.:
It might be “just me”, but somehow a LIFE (sentence) W/O parole just doesn’t seem fair considering that FOUR people are STILL DEAD…W/O a chance at LIFE ITSELF.
He needs to slip on a bar of soap and crack his coconut…several times.
Good post.
Stay safe out there.
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Yeah, he got off easy, in my opinion.
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I remember this. It was like an action movie style escape. Too bad the guy who was doing it was the bad guy.
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Too bad it didn’t have an action movie ending. You know, with Bruce Willis blowing him away while making some smartass remark. Coulda been a classic.
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