Brian Nichols was found guilty on November 7, 2008, of all 54 charges stemming from his 2005 shooting rampage at the Fulton County Courthouse in downtown Atlanta. Nichols murdered the judge set to preside over his 2005 rape trial, the court reporter, and a sheriff's deputy outside the courthouse. Nichols also murdered a federal customs agent after his escape. Nichols was later apprehended at the home of Ashley Smith, a Gwinnett County, Georgia, woman whom he had taken hostage.

Nichols's murderous escape from the Fulton County Courthouse in 2005 resulted in the deaths of four individuals. Nichols overpowered the sheriff's deputy escorting him into the courtroom, shot and killed the judge presiding over his rape trial, Rowland Barnes, and also killed court reporter Julie Ann Brandau. Outside the building, Nichols shot and killed police sergeant Hoyt Tinsley. Later in the day, after escaping the area, Nichols killed federal customs agent David Wilhelm at Wilhelm's home.CNN: Courthouse Shooter Guilty of Murder, Faces Death (November 7, 2008)