Beefed-up security at SEC tournament after courthouse shooting

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Posted 4:54PM on Friday, March 11, 2005

ATLANTA (AP) The Georgia Dome brought in extra security to reassure skittish fans at the Southeastern Conference men's basketball tournament, held just a few blocks from a courthouse where three people were shot to death Friday. The first of four quarterfinal games, between No. 20 Alabama and Mississippi, began while authorities conducted a massive search for a 33-year-old man suspected of killing a Fulton County judge, a court reporter and a deputy. The shooting occurred at the Fulton County Courthouse, only about a half-mile from the Georgia Dome. Carl Atkins, the dome's general manager, said extra officers were called in to beef up security around the indoor stadium, part of a massive downtown complex that also includes Philips Arena and the Georgia World Congress Center. A parking lot next to the dome was shut down temporarily while officers combed the area, making sure the suspect was not hiding out among vehicles that already had been let in. ``We're very in tune with the events of today,'' Atkins said. ``We want our fans to feel safe. Actually, downtown Atlanta is probably safer than it's been any other day because of all the extra security in the area.'' Several roads leading to the dome were cordoned off by police shortly after the 9 a.m. shootings. But most basketball fans were staying in downtown hotels within walking distance of the 70,000-seat arena. Brian Lamar of Cincinnati, who came to Atlanta to cheer on the Kentucky Wildcats, was stunned when he heard about the shooting. ``I was a little apprehensive when I came out of the hotel this morning,'' Lamar said. ``There were cops everywhere. There were helicopters.'' The suspect, identified as Brian Nichols, was on trial for rape and other charges stemming from an incident in August. He somehow got his hands on a courtroom deputy's gun, authorities said. Outside the building, the suspect carjacked a newspaper reporter's vehicle and fled. Lamar said the carjacking occurred ``right near where we're staying. A lot of people are scared. That's all anyone was talking about.'' But Andrew Bonner, a member of the Mississippi pep band, didn't seem too concerned. ``Security is pretty good around here,'' he said. Thousands of fans were in Atlanta for the tournament. In addition to the Alabama-Mississippi game, Friday's schedule included Florida vs. Mississippi State, No. 4 Kentucky vs. Tennessee and LSU vs. Auburn. (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)