ATLANTA — Facing life in prison, Brian G. Nichols transformed himself Friday morning from a rape suspect into a hunted fugitive after a bloody rampage that began in Georgia's Fulton County courthouse and sent a wave of fear across metro Atlanta.

Shortly before his rape trial was to reconvene, Nichols burst into court and opened fire, killing a Fulton County judge and a courtroom stenographer, police said. As he made his escape from the courthouse in downtown Atlanta, he shot to death a deputy who briefly impeded his getaway. Nichols, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound former college football player, armed himself with a .40-caliber handgun he grabbed off a petite female deputy sheriff who had guarded him as he changed from his jail jumpsuit into street clothes for his trial.

He remained at large late Friday night, and police gave little indication that they knew where to find him. Authorities were offering $60,000 for his capture.

It was unclear what moved Nichols to shoot and kill Rowland Barnes, 64, the widely respected Fulton County Superior Court judge assigned to Nichols' trial. Yet, it seemed that Nichols had worked with a purpose: After overpowering deputy sheriff Cynthia Hall, he set out to Barnes' courtroom instead of taking an easier route to freedom.

Courthouse officials said Nichols entered Barnes' private chambers demanding to see the judge shortly after 9 a.m. A staff member pushed a "panic" button, triggering a light in the courtroom. Nichols overpowered and handcuffed a deputy who responded and stripped him of his gun.

Armed with two weapons, he stormed into the courtroom and opened fire. Also killed was Julie Brandau, 46, the court stenographer seated near the judge.

Richard L. Robbins was arguing an unrelated civil case before Barnes when the shootings occurred. "It was just horrific," said Robbins, who was too shaken to say much more Friday afternoon.

Renee Rockwell, a lawyer working on an unrelated case, walked into Barnes' courtroom just after the shooting. "I saw hats on the ground and all the deputies were running with guns drawn," Rockwell said. "You don't ever see that." She said she was pushed into an elevator by deputies.

The two prosecutors trying the case, Gayle Abramson and Ash Joshi, were still in their offices. Jurors on the Nichols case were in the building but had not yet been called to the courtroom.

"He wanted the people who were involved in his trial," said Deputy District Attorney Al Dixon.