Nichols was on trial for rape when he escaped from custody and murdered the judge presiding over his trial, a court reporter , a sheriff's deputy and later a federal agent. Twenty-six hours after a large-scale manhunt was launched in the metropolitan Atlanta area, Nichols was taken into custody. The prosecution charged him with committing 54 crimes during the escape; and he was found guilty on all counts on November 7, Nichols grew up in a middle class household in Baltimore, Maryland , and attended Cardinal Gibbons School.
He later attended Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in Kutztown, Pennsylvania , from to , where he played football and was known for having a "knack for trouble". Nichols was later arrested on multiple charges for the rape, kidnapping, and assault of a former girlfriend after discovering that she was dating a minister from the church that they both attended.
The first attempt at a trial ended with a mistrial and a hung jury. On March 11, Nichols overpowered a sheriff 's deputy while changing clothes, stealing her Glock gun, and beating her into a coma.
On his way to Barnes's chambers, Nichols encountered case managers Susan Christy and Gina Clarke Thomas as well as attorney David Allman, whom he held at gunpoint and demanded directions to Barnes's location. During this time Sergeant Grantley White entered the courtroom and attempted to disarm Nichols but failed, and was forced to handcuff the others.
White managed to set off an alarm, which Nichols attempted to dispel, using White's radio. Nichols later progressed into the courtroom where he fatally shot Barnes, as well as court reporter Julie Ann Brandau. He later fatally shot Sergeant Hoyt Teasley while escaping from the courthouse. Nichols car-jacked several vehicles during his escape and was featured on America's Most Wanted during his manhunt.
