The last time I wrote about danger from criminals loosed on Atlanta, I was sitting in an office in Kennesaw, GA, a few miles northwest of downtown Atlanta.

At 9 a.m. this morning at the Fulton County Courthouse, Brian Nichols, a man charged with violently raping his girlfriend last August (among other things, but officially known as kidnapping and attempted rape) is alleged to have wrestled a pistol from a deputy sheriff, shot and killed Judge Rowland Barnes, a court reporter, and a deputy sheriff. He is also alleged to have shot and wounded another deputy sheriff. He escaped from the courthouse hijacked a car and is on the run in Greater Atlanta, whereabouts still unknown. He is known to have ties in Florida and may be heading in that direction.

If you are a reader in Atlanta and have not seen the coverage either on the internet or on television, the suspect is a 6’1”, 200 lbs, 33 year-old black male named Brian Nichols. He is thought to be driving a Green Honda accord with Georgia license plate 6584 YN.

Others covering the story~~

Jeff Quinton (As usual, Jeff is doing an excellent job live blogging the story. Look here first.)
Gay Orbit

Slobokan’s Site O’ Schtuff

NIF

slippy_penguin

Kevin McGeehee

M.H. King

James Joyner

(If you’re near a television, James will be on MSNBC’s Connected Coast to Coast to discuss the recent spate of judge killings at 5 Eastern. Here’s hoping he gives Jeff a mention.)
kayholder

Virushead

aquaknot

Jihad Pundit
Truth Quante-fied
Michelle Malkin
Chris Short
Citizen Smash
Kevin Aylward
Slant Point

lead and gold

The Glittering Eye

The Moderate Voice

Crooks and Liars

Frank Villon

In the Bullpen

Law Dork

Speed of Thought

State of Georgia

Georgia Navigator (maps, webcams, Interstate message signs)

Media Sources

Google News

Atlanta Journal Constitution

WGST AM

WSB AM

WAGA TV - Fox affiliate

WSB TV - ABC affiliate

WXIA TV - NBC affiliate
CNN
MSNBC
FNC
AP

Fortunately for me, this time I am writing from Northeast Arkansas and watching the event unfold live on various cable news networks. It’s poignant because the Spinning Belle’s parents live just north of Atlanta, and we spent many hours yesterday looking at Atlanta area apartmetns yesterday. We plan on moving back there in the next few weeks. It’s news coverage like this that prompts you to pause and reconsider the options.

As we watch the coverage, familiar streetscapes, buildings, parking garages, and other scenes flash across the screen. The last time I flew into Atlanta, the Belle and I parked at the same garage where the suspect carjacked a vehicle to make his escape. We walked the same streets that are now blocked by barricades and have become a parking area for numerous emergency vehicles, bordered by satellite trucks from the various networks (the Atlanta skyline prevents the use of line of sight and less expensive microwave trucks). On a clear, sunny March day, Atlanta has turned into an extended crime scene as they search for the missing man.

This event should not influence a decision to move to Atlanta or not. It could happen anywhere a person has reached a snapping point and embraces the deeds of the desperate and hopeless. We will journey east tomorrow to the capitol of the New South. With any luck, Fulton County’s finest will have resolved this situation safely. The people of Atlanta can then go back to the anticipation of spring weather and occasional thoughts of the oppresive heat and humidity of late summer.