Sheriff reports on courthouse shooting

ATLANTA, April 8 (UPI) -- Fulton County, Ga., sheriff's officers were aware of some security problems in the courthouse before four were killed in a shooting rampage.

But Sheriff Myron Freeman said his department's response during the incident was "exemplary," the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Friday.

The report released Thursday and an accompanying letter from the sheriff was disturbing to some Atlanta officials.

"I think I was most struck by what was not here," Fulton County Commission Chairwoman Karen Handel said. "Clearly, there's a lack of accountability. For this report to convey that nothing went wrong on March 11 is troubling."

Brian Nichols has been charged of overpowering a 51-year-old female deputy who was guarding him as he moved from his jail cell to court.

He took her keys and gun and walked through the courthouse complex to the chambers of Judge Rowland Barnes where he held several people hostage.

He then allegedly shot Barnes and a court reporter, fled the court room and killed a deputy. A Customs agent was killed later during his flight that ended the next day with his surrender.