Atlanta
A rape defendant stole a deputy’s gun and killed the judge presiding over his trial in Atlanta last week, police said. Brian Nichols, 33, also shot and killed a deputy and a court reporter before fleeing, then later killed another man and stole his vehicle. Eluding the largest manhunt in the state’s history for more than 24 hours, Nichols took Ashley Smith, 26, hostage in her home. Smith, a widow and mother, talked to Nichols about the Bible and cooked him pancakes. Smith said that after Nichols calmed down, he called her “an angel,” and said he didn’t want to hurt anybody else. Nichols released her after seven hours, and surrendered peacefully, waving a white towel. “I believe God brought him to my door,” Smith said.
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