Who was in charge of search?
Atlanta police took over 1 hour after shootings
Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin acknowledged Wednesday that city police did not take control of the manhunt for Brian G. Nichols until about an hour after the start of the shooting spree at the Fulton County Courthouse that left a judge and two others dead.
In the aftermath of the rampage, law enforcement officials have not made clear which agency was in charge of the troubled and fruitless manhunt.
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Brian G. Nichols surrendered 26 hours after the courthouse shootings.
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Franklin responded about the city's role late Wednesday with a written statement that Franklin's staff took seven hours to draft.
"APD assumed the lead role in the investigation upon arrival at the Fulton County Courthouse at approximately 10:00 a.m.," the mayor's office said in a statement issued after 11 p.m.
The shooting began at about 9 a.m. Friday. The first carjacking attributed to Nichols outside the courthouse took place at 9:05 a.m., police said.
Franklin's statement went on to say that Atlanta police took the lead role after they were notified by phone "that the alleged perpetrator Brian Nichols had eluded sheriff's deputies after fatally wounding three victims and assaulting another."
Nichols then went on a carjacking spree, taking five vehicles during a flight from the courthouse to parking garages near Centennial Olympic Park. Nichols allegedly assaulted Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Don O'Briant at 9:20 a.m. while taking his green Honda.
Police warned the public throughout the day Friday to watch out for the Honda, broadcasting its description and tag number. But the car was found in the same garage later that night, and police later said Nichols had slipped out of the garage on foot and taken MARTA to Buckhead.
It's unclear when Nichols boarded the train, but a Journal-Constitution employee says she saw a man who looked like him walking down Marietta Street toward the Five Points MARTA station between 9:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Had Nichols been arrested that morning, U.S. Customs agent David Wilhelm might still be alive. Authorities said Nichols killed him in Buckhead Friday night. Nichols surrendered to Gwinnett County police Saturday morning.
Although police allowed Nichols to leave the downtown area, Atlanta officials have withheld criticism all week.
"I think APD did an incredible job, as did all law enforcement, and I'm greatly relieved by the outcome," Franklin said Monday.
Even so, she said it was too soon to begin assessing the police department's performance. "Until there is an evaluation and debriefing of the action, I think it's premature to assess what happened and what didn't happen," she said.
Asked how much time she would give Police Chief Richard Pennington to evaluate the police response, Franklin said, "as much time as he needs." She quickly added: "This is a 34-year veteran, an experienced chief."
The statement, issued by Franklin's deputy chief of staff, Sandra Walker, quotes the mayor as saying: "At this point, there is nothing more important than ensuring that we develop a solid, factually accurate case. It is imperative that we provide the district attorney the information needed to effectively and fairly prosecute the case. In terms of the actions of law enforcement agencies, Chief Pennington and his team will focus their attention on who did what, when they did it, how they did it, and why they did it at the appropriate time."