Suspect in Atlanta courthouse shooting appears at hearing
{{date|March 16, 2005}}

Brian Nichols appeared before Cobb County Magistrate Judge Frank Cox on Tuesday, four days after fleeing [[w:Atlanta|Atlanta]] in a killing spree. The hearing took place inside a [[w:Fulton County, Georgia|Fulton County]] jail. Accompanied by nineteen security officers and shackled at the hands and feet, Nichols only words when asked if he had any questions were, "Not at this time."

The 5 minute hearing was a formality to re-file charges of rape against him. He will be charged with 4 counts of murder and is currently being held with bond.

Nichols allegedly shot the judge presiding over his rape trial along with two others present at the time in an Atlanta courtroom. He then fled to a suburb outside the city. Later that evening, it is allegeded he shot a US customs agent before taking a woman [[w:hostage|hostage]] in her own apartment, alluding the massive [[w:Manhunt|manhunt.]]

Nichols ultimately let the hostage, Ashley Smith, go free. He surrendered peacefully to a [[w:SWAT|SWAT]] team after Smith alerted authorities.

==See also==
*{{source|url=http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Suspect_in_Georgia_courtroom_slayings_caught 
|title=Suspect in Georgia courtroom slaying caught
|author=
|pub=WikiNews
|date=March 13, 2005}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/COURTHOUSE_SHOOTING?SITE=KJLL&SECTION=HOME 
|title=Murder Charges Planned in Georgia Slayings
|author=Bill Poovey
|pub=Associated Press
|date=March 15, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-03-15T172752Z_01_N15388915_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-CRIME-SHOOTING-ATLANTA-DC.XML 
|title=Atlanta Shooting Suspect to Face 4 Murder Charges
|author=Paul Simao
|pub=Reuters
|date=March 14, 2005}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/14/national/14hostage.html 
|title=Atlanta Hostage Recounts Ordeal
|author=[[Associated Press|AP]]
|pub=New York Times
|date=March 14, 2005}}

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[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Atlanta, Georgia]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Fulton County, Georgia]]
Brian Nichols appeared before Cobb County Magistrate Judge Frank Cox on Tuesday, four days after fleeing Atlanta in a killing spree. The hearing took place inside a Fulton County jail. Accompanied by nineteen security officers and shackled at the hands and feet, Nichols only words when asked if he had any questions were, "Not at this time."

The 5 minute hearing was a formality to re-file charges of rape against him. He will be charged with 4 counts of murder and is currently being held with bond.

Nichols allegedly shot the judge presiding over his rape trial along with two others present at the time in an Atlanta courtroom. He then fled to a suburb outside the city. Later that evening, it is allegeded he shot a US customs agent before taking a woman hostage in her own apartment, alluding the massive manhunt.

Nichols ultimately let the hostage, Ashley Smith, go free. He surrendered peacefully to a SWAT team after Smith alerted authorities.
United States Crime and law Atlanta, Georgia North America Fulton County, Georgia