On March 11, 2005, Brian Nichols escapes from the Fulton County, Georgia courthouse in Atlanta, during his trial involving a rape case. In the process of the escape he murders the judge presiding over his trial, Rowland Barnes, as well as court reporter Julie Brandau. He also shoots Sergeant Hoyt Teasley while escaping from the courthouse, and then later kills U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent David G. Wilhelm, who was off-duty at his home.