Atlanta manhunt moves beyond carjacked Honda
Officials fear suspect in three killings may have taken a hostage
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Security camera images from inside a parking garage have given investigators their latest lead in the hunt for a man wanted in the courthouse killings of a judge, a court reporter and a sheriff's deputy.
But the photos failed to show how he made his getaway.
The suspect, 33-year-old Brian Nichols, is wanted in the shooting deaths of Judge Rowland W. Barnes, court reporter Julie Ann Brandau and deputy sheriff Hoyt Teasley.
The nationwide manhunt for Nichols shifted focus late Friday with the discovery that the 1997 Honda Accord police had earlier thought was used for the getaway, was still in the garage where he carjacked it from a newspaper reporter after the courthouse shootings.
The garage's lower level exit gate, used only by parkers with monthly passes, was broken and detectives told CNN they believe Nichols crashed through it after taking another car on that level.
But they have not ruled out the possibility that he may have walked out of the garage.
A series of photos taken by two stairwell cameras show a shirtless Nichols putting on a jacket apparently taken from the reporter as he walked to a lower level and disappeared.
No camera was in position to capture what happened when Nichols exited the stairwell.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vernon Keenan says the fear now is Nichols may have taken another vehicle, and its owner as hostage, soon after abandoning the Honda.
To read rest of article, go here: http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/12/atlanta.shooting/index.html
Officials fear suspect in three killings may have taken a hostage
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Security camera images from inside a parking garage have given investigators their latest lead in the hunt for a man wanted in the courthouse killings of a judge, a court reporter and a sheriff's deputy.
But the photos failed to show how he made his getaway.
The suspect, 33-year-old Brian Nichols, is wanted in the shooting deaths of Judge Rowland W. Barnes, court reporter Julie Ann Brandau and deputy sheriff Hoyt Teasley.
The nationwide manhunt for Nichols shifted focus late Friday with the discovery that the 1997 Honda Accord police had earlier thought was used for the getaway, was still in the garage where he carjacked it from a newspaper reporter after the courthouse shootings.
The garage's lower level exit gate, used only by parkers with monthly passes, was broken and detectives told CNN they believe Nichols crashed through it after taking another car on that level.
But they have not ruled out the possibility that he may have walked out of the garage.
A series of photos taken by two stairwell cameras show a shirtless Nichols putting on a jacket apparently taken from the reporter as he walked to a lower level and disappeared.
No camera was in position to capture what happened when Nichols exited the stairwell.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vernon Keenan says the fear now is Nichols may have taken another vehicle, and its owner as hostage, soon after abandoning the Honda.
To read rest of article, go here: http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/12/atlanta.shooting/index.html
