The Judge is being reported at this time as deceased. The Deputy has been taken to Grady Hospital. The perp escaped by carjacking one person and has sence carjacked 2 other vehicles. They are not sure what kind of vehicle they are currently looking for. This started on the 8'th floor of the Court house during open court. Looks like everyone but the perp has been arrested as they are being held in lockdown inside the courthouse. Late report is the Judges clerk may also have been shot. They are not sure how the clerk's injury are related. More to follow as the story develops...
Currently it's being reported ther were 2 deouties shot and not one. Thay haven't said if this is in addition to the clerk or if it replaces the clerk with the additional deputy.
Clerk is also shot. This occurred at the beginning of a rape trial as the suspect was brought in. Grady has confirmed that Judge Rowland Barnes is deceased. Open court on the 6th floor. Oddly, the news does not know who did the shooting, but I want to emphasize that this was done with THE DEPUTY'S GUN.
They are confirming 4 people shot. 2 deAd are the judge and the clerk. 2 deputies are in Garady Hospital.
Ok...Now being reported as the court reporter instead of the court clerk as bein the second death in this tragedy. The second deputy shot was not shot in the courthouse but on the street outside. Also possibly another car jacking bringing it to 5. One of the carjack victiems was an AJC reporter. Where are the CCW's when you need one?
One of the deputies shot in this tragedy has died. This brings the death toll to 3. It is not clear at this time if it was the deputy shot in the court room or the one on the street. In either case this is a great loss.
Either some reporter got it wrong or one of the Deputies has come back to life. Or maybe it is wrong now and all 4 are dead. Who knows for sure at this point? Grady Hospital is reporting the deputy shot on the streed is alive and in critical condition. Shot in the face and mouth area but the bullet did not penitrate the skull. However there is a small bruise on her brain. Some of her injuries are suspected of being caused when she fell to the pavement after being shot.
Atlanta Bar Association: We are deeply stunned and saddened by the tragic murder this morning of Judge Rowland Barnes, court reporter Julie Brandau and a Fulton County sheriff's deputy who has not been identified as of this writing. Judge Barnes was a giant in our legal community and a strong supporter and active member of the Atlanta Bar Association. All of the victims were respected servants of our justice system and will be sorely missed. Our hearts are heavy with grief, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families. It is time to reflect on and appreciate the risks taken every day by members of our judicial system in serving the public. They are all instrumental in making our system of justice the best in the world. We look forward to the perpetrator of these crimes being swiftly brought to justice. William M. Ragland, Jr. President Atlanta Bar Association
I can't help but feel if he had carjacked a CCW justice would now be served and they could put the helicopters and additional cops away...
I'm hearing through the copvine that it was a female deputy that lost the gun to him. She was shot in the face/mouth and has fractures to her facial bones and a bruised brain. The judge an reporter were then shot. The perp then exited the courthouse and killed the other deputy. He also carjacked several cars including one belonging to an Atlanta newspaper reporter. The reporter was pistol whipped, and he broke his wrist wheb he fell. The judge recently sentenced a woman that killed her child to probtation and a tubal ligation.
Well maybe they will get it all sorted out and we will eventually have the real story. The way it was reported was that the female bailiff who had lost the gun to him was dead and another female was shot on the street in the face. Last report a few minutes ago said the 3 that were shot inside the courtroom were dead. As near as I can tell it doesn't matter much. This being politically correct needs to stop someplace. Citizens have a birth right to defend their lives and property against the criminals who would deprive them of either. Maybe we should contact this reporter and try to convince him to join our side of the equasion? Had he been armed he would now be a hero instead of a victiem. Might have even gotten a big kiss from Sonny!
With condolences to the families... The loss of innocent life is indeed tragic. Though I do not know all the details of the case, why was the perptrator not in restraints/cuffs before being brought into the courthouse? And why was there only ONE baliff escorting him?! He'd been found hiding a "shank" (fabricated stabbing instrument) in his shoe previously! U P D A T E (12 MAR 05) CAPTURED!!! Unfortunately, it appears another death, this time a U.S. Customs agent, may have been perpetrated by this animal. May justice be swiftly served....