Suspect in Atlanta courthouse slayings in custody after daylong manhunt

DULUTH, GA. — A rape suspect accused of shooting a judge and two others at a courthouse was captured Saturday after a day on the lam in which he allegedly killed an immigration agent, stole his truck and took a woman hostage, officials said.

"Brian Nichols is in custody," said Officer Darren Moloney of the Gwinnett County Police Department. "Everybody is safe."

Moloney said Nichols, 33, was armed and had a female hostage when he was caught at a suburban apartment complex.

The woman, who was not identified by authorities, called 911 to report that Nichols was in her apartment, Police Chief Charles Walters said. He said the woman did not know Nichols, and either escaped or was allowed to leave before police arrived.

"He literally waved a white flag or a T-shirt and came out," Walters said.

FBI Spokesman Steve Lazarus said Nichols is a suspect in the courthouse shootings and the fatal shooting of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent found dead early Saturday.

The agent, identified as David Wilhelm, was discovered shot to death at an upscale townhouse complex, and his blue pickup truck, pistol and badge were missing.

Police said the truck was found at a different location, but did not elaborate. Nichols was taken into federal custody.

After Nichols' arrest, a crowd of people across the street from the apartment complex cheered as a black sports utility vehicle drove away, escorted by multiple police cars with lights flashing and sirens on.

The courthouse shootings Friday set off a massive manhunt and created widespread chaos across Atlanta, where schools, restaurants and office buildings locked down amid fears that the suspect might strike again.

Nichols was being escorted to his retrial on rape and other charges Friday when he allegedly overpowered a court deputy, taking her gun, before killing three people: the judge presiding over his case, a court reporter and a deputy who confronted him as he escaped the courthouse.

The deputy from whom he stole the gun, Cynthia Hall, remained in critical condition Saturday.

He then allegedly pistolwhipped Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Don O'Briant and stole his car. Throughout Friday, police said they were looking for the reporter's green Honda Accord, and highway message boards across the state issued descriptions of the vehicle.