A man on trial for several felonies grabbed a deputy's gun and opened fire in an Atlanta courthouse on Friday, killing a judge and two other people before fleeing, authorities said. Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes and an unidentified court reporter died from gunshot wounds, Georgia Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor said shortly after the 9 a.m./1400 GMT shooting at Fulton County Courthouse. A sheriff's deputy also was killed and another wounded, Atlanta Police spokesman John Quigley said. The deputy who lost her gun was shot but expected to survive, he said. The suspect, identified by police as Brian Nichols, 33, escaped the court and then carjacked at least one vehicle, shooting at a sheriff's deputy outside, witnesses and police said. Across Georgia, electronic highway messages were being posted with information on the vehicle Nichols was believed to have taken. About 30 schools in Atlanta were locked down while authorities searched for the suspect. The shooting occurred less than two weeks after the husband and mother of a federal judge in Chicago were shot to death. --More 2239 Local Time 1939 GMT
