Judge, Court reporter killed in court

[911S Targa]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7157845/

BREAKING NEWS
MSNBC staff and news service reports
Updated: 10:51 a.m. ET March 11, 2005ATLANTA - A judge and a court reporter were killed and two others wounded at the Fulton County Courthouse in downtown Atlanta on Friday. Authorities were hunting for the suspect, a man who had been before the judge facing rape charges.

[widebody911]

Wow, talk about contempt of court!

[gaijindabe]

Looks like a copy cat. A Judge's family was murdered recently in Chicago, I think. 300 million people in the USA, a bunch of them judges and even more of them criminals, it is not surprising.

[bryanthompson]

I don't think this the same situation as the other judge's family being killed... just a coincidence that they both happened to be judges. In the Chicago one, they seemed to be trying to send a message to the Judge by killing her family, it looks like this case is just a guy going postal.

The media sure seems to be having an orgy over it. At least it pushed Jackson to the back page for a few minutes.

[RickM]

Originally posted by bryanthompson
In the Chicago one, they seemed to be trying to send a message to the Judge by killing her family

In Chicago the killer apparently wanted the judge. The husband and mother were unfortunately in the way. The husband went down to the utility room where the guy was hiding. Being found out the sick ba$tard shot him. Then the mother was killed when she went downstairs to see what the noise was.
The guy primarily wanted the judge in retaliation of a judgement.
Fortunately the killer spare the public of the prosecution and incarceration expense and offed himself at a traffic stop.

[bryanthompson]

I missed that, Rick, the story I heard made it sound more mafia style than just plain 'ol revenge.

[RickM]

I thought the same until I happened to catch a news clip. This guy was obviously a very sick dude.

"Lefkow (the judge) last fall dismissed a rambling lawsuit in which Ross claimed that cancer treatments had disfigured his face and that the U.S. judicial system, which dismissed his medical malpractice claims, "is the Nazi style criminal and violator" of his civil rights. Lefkow's ruling was upheld by a federal appeals court in January"

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/J/JUDGE_BODIES?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[speeder]

Wow. This is a strange case, think about how many violent criminals are escorted in and out of courtrooms everyday in the U.S., (and elsewhere), and I can't remember a case like this offhand. Usually there are so many law officers around in and outside of the criminal courtrooms that the guy would never get out alive like this. He made it all the way out of the building after shooting the place up? Sounds like something out of a movie.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by bryanthompson
At least it pushed Jackson to the back page for a few minutes.

You say that like it's a bad thing...

[smoak]

Another reason why Bailiffs should not be armed inside the courthouse. So many lives ruined because of stupidity. Sad.

[carnutzzz]

Yup- I had to show 2 forms of ID to get into the building today. Our security guards are on alert until the guy is caught.

I work in the Cox Enterprises building here in Atlanta.

[rcecale]

My wife works near Roswell Rd. and 285 and she told me the cops came by their building and had them lock the doors. They were securing all the parking lots too. The hunt was/is on, bigtime, for this guy.

Randy

[targa911S]

last I heard he was still at large. He shot 4 times with a stolen Sig or Glock. That leaves him the balance of the 15 rounds I think.. Anyway you look at it he is a dead man. He's black, it's Georgia, and he killed cops. They WILL shoot him.

[dd74]

The ****er got away!

Unbelievable!

[kumma]

Originally posted by smoak
Another reason why Bailiffs should not be armed inside the courthouse. So many lives ruined because of stupidity. Sad.

I think you are wrong. The defendent should have been schackled or sequestered from the rest of the court room. And the bailiff should have done his job and put a bullet in the s.o.b. Blame the officer not the gun.

Only bright side is the escapee will be killed, hopfully without taking anyone else with him.

[ed martin]

Uhh... Funny you should assume the bailiff was a male, in fact the baliff was a diminutive woman who was overpowered by a 225 lb brute. That was the essence of the problem.

[VenezianBlau 87]

Originally posted by targa911S
Anyway you look at it he is a dead man. He's black, it's Georgia, and he killed cops. They WILL shoot him.

I suspect that comment is not made in jest. As such, it's an indictment of your flawed thinking that you would reach such a conclusion. It doesn't reflect the racially integrated life I've found here in the Atlanta area. Although I predict the same final outcome as you, race will not be the deciding factor.

Anyway, as more details leak out, the more outrageous are the circumstances of the violence. The suspect was caught with improvised weapons days ago; and yet, only one female deputy was guarding the suspect in an unsecured holding room. She uncuffed him so he could change into court appearance attire. She fought with him for three minutes before he escaped with her pistol, radio, and belt. No backup the entire time. She's in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the head and skull fractures from the attack. Superior Court judge dead, court reporter dead, and one deputy sheriff pursuing the suspect outside dead.

[speeder]

Major security breach/fuch-up. When you are transporting a "nothing to lose" type of career criminal w/ a history of violence, there should be a lot better security involved. Really sad.

[speeder]

Originally posted by targa911S
Anyway you look at it he is a dead man. He's black, it's Georgia, and he killed cops. They WILL shoot him.

You think that being white would buy him a little understanding right about now??

[on-ramp]

stuff like this happens because security is under-estimated. i remember a case a while back of 2 detectives escorting a suspect from one court to another, suspect takes the detective's gun, shoots both of them dead, takes the car and flees.