ATLANTA, March 12 (UPI) -- A massive manhunt for a man who allegedly killed four people, including a judge and a federal agent, ended quietly Saturday in an Atlanta suburb.
Brian Nichols surrendered to Gwinnet County police officers after a woman he had held hostage overnight contacted police.
Sources told CNN that the woman, who lived in an Atlanta suburban apartment complex, had gone out for cigarettes late last night and when she returned, Nichols allegedly forced himself into her home, bound her and threw her into the bathtub.
At some point he released her and had her follow him in her car as he disposed of the vehicle he had allegedly stolen after killing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent David Wilhelm. Then the woman and Nichols returned to her home.
A construction worker found Wilhem's body at around 6 a.m. and police began a search for his vehicle. His badge, weapon and identification were also taken.
The woman later escaped or was released and called police from the apartment leasing office. After a massive show of force including a SWAT team, Nichols waved a white cloth or t-shirt and surrendered peacefully with no resistance.
The violence began Friday as a deputy was taking Nichols to his trial on rape, sodomy and false imprisonment charges. After overpowering the deputy in an elevator, taking her pistol and shooting her in her face, he allegedly walked into a courtroom where he killed Superior Court Judge Rowland Barnes and court reporter Julie Brandau, police said.
