Just in – A judge (Judge Rowland Barnes) and three other people were shot this morning at the Fulton County Courthouse in downtown Atlanta by a rape suspect. Initial reports are that a man took the gun from a deputy, shot him and then turned the gun on the judge shortly after 9 a.m. EST. The man then reportedly escaped in a carjacked vehicle. Judge Barnes made headlines in February for ordering a woman who killed her 5-week-old daughter to undergo sterilization and serve five years on probation. This event happens less than two weeks after the husband and mother of a federal judge in Chicago were shot to death.

There is an Amber Alert out: Judge shot and killed. Predator gunman is at large. Rape suspect takes gun from Deputy to shoot four persons. Judge and his Court Reporter have been confirmed deceased. All four victim are deceased. Swat team has surrounded the home of the suspect. Multiple vehicles have been hi-jacked after gunman flees from Courthouse. Description has been provided by law enforcement.

Brian Nichols black male, age 34, 210 pounds and is 6 feet 1 inch tall with balding hair, brown eyes, black hair. Last seen wearing wearing dark pants.

Victims have been taken to Grady Hospital. Hospital confirmed Judge, Rowland Barnes, has passed away from wounds from the shooting. Open fire 09:00 killing the Judge Rowland Barnes and wounding two deputies. Courthouse was in lock down for about an hour. Confusion turned into triage to save lives then emts transported the victims of the shootings to local hospital. Officials are withholding the names of the victims until the next of kin are notified.

Judge Barnes attended Emory Law School. One Court Reporter is dead. Two Deputies are now reported as dead.

White Church or News Van (!!!) is the suspect vehicle with Georgia Plates at 09:53.

Note added March 12, 2005: After a series of rather strange events, Brian Nicols has given himself up peacefully to police.  All of this happened close enough to my own neighborhood to have made me jittery until he did. I’m grateful that he is off the street.