ATLANTA — It was a day that many people will never forget.
On March 11, 2005, Brian Nichols, who was on trial for rape, overpowered a sheriff’s deputy while changing clothes, stole her gun, and severely beat her. He then walked into the Fulton County Courthouse, searching for Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes.
“Nothing was wrinkled,” remembered lawyer Nicole Waller, who was in the middle of a motions argument in a business contract case. “He didn’t look out of place at all.”
Before he reached Barnes’ chambers, Nichols ran into case managers Susan Christy and Gina Clarke Thomas and attorney David Allman.
At the same time, Sgt. Grantley White saw what was happening and attempted to disarm Nichols but wasn’t able to, and was later forced to handcuff the others.
Nichols then found Barnes, and then shot him to death. He also killed court reporter Julie Ann Brandau.
A stunned Waller ducked behind a lectern.
“By the time I realized what was happening, he was gone,” Waller told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2015.
During his escape from the courthouse, Nichols killed Sergeant Hoyt Teasley.
Nichols then carjacked several cars and a massive manhunt was launched.
Later that night, Nichols shot and killed ICE agent David Wilhelm in Buckhead.
For 26 hours, authorities from all law enforcement agencies searched for Nichols.
What started the beginning of the end for Nichols was when Ashley Smith called 911 telling the operator that Nichols was in her Duluth apartment.
She later told authorities that Nichols took her hostage in her apartment. In an interview with Channel 2′s Carol Sbarge in 2015, Smith said her life at that time was a mess.
“My aunt told me a couple of weeks before, ‘I pray that God changes you or takes you home.’ I thought this was the man my aunt prayed for,” she said.
Smith said face to face with the armed killer, God spoke to her and gave her a chance to change her life. She says she quit drugs on the spot and began to read and talk to Nichols, telling him everyone has bad things in their lives.
“I was able to have conversation with Brian Nichols that helped him understand I've been there,” she said.
Amazingly, Nichols surrendered. Police took him into custody.
Nichols was later found guilty on 54 counts in 2008, including murder, kidnapping, armed robbery. He was sentenced to multiple life sentences.
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Information from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Associated Press was used in this report