Sheriff's Deputy Sergeant Hoyt Teasley was killed trying to apprehend a shooting suspect. The shootings happened about 9 a.m., Nichols 33 was being led into an eighth-floor courtroom. Nichols was being retried on rape, false imprisonment and other charges after a knife-like weapon was discovered in Nichols' boot last week. A first trial last week ended in a hung jury. The second trial began Monday 03-07-05. Nichols apparently overpowered Deputy Cynthia Hall in an elevator on their way to the courtroom taking he weapon. Deputy Cynthia escorting Nichols suffered a graze wound to her head from her own gun and is in critical condition,
but was expected to survive.

Once inside the courtroom, Nichols held people in the room at bay briefly, and then shot killed Judge Rowland
W. Barnes 51 and court reporter Julie Ann Brandau 43 both of whom died at the scene. Nichols then fled the building, where outside he shot Sgt. Hoyt Teasley in the abdomen. The sheriff's deputy was pronounced dead
at the hospital. Nichols then car jacked a tow truck at gunpoint near the courthouse. Nichols dumped the tow truck and carjacked a reporter taking his 1997 Honda Accord.

 The nationwide manhunt for Nichols shifted focus late that night with the discovery that the 1997 Honda
Accord police had earlier thought was used for the getaway, was still in the garage where he carjacked it from
a newspaper reporter after the courthouse shootings. The garage's lower level exit gate, used only by parkers with monthly passes, was broken and detectives believe Nichols crashed through it after taking another car on that level. But they have not ruled out the possibility that he may have walked out of the garage. A series of photos taken by two stairwell cameras show a shirtless Nichols putting on a jacket apparently taken from the reporter as he walked to a lower level and Disappeared.

A massive manhunt had been under way to find Nichols, who police say Nichols then killed an off-duty U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Officer David Wilhelm in his blue pickup truck taking his gun, badge and ID in Duluth, Georgia. A truck matching the description belonging to Officer David Wilhelm was discovered an apartment complex in Duluth. FBI, ATF, and Sheriff’s SWAT teams heavily armed surrounded the complex and Nichols was found in an apartment at that complex. Police initially thought the person in the apartment might be a hostage but authorities are looking into the possibility that the person might be an acquaintance of Nichols. The person was allowed to come out of the unit and speak with law enforcement officers as they negotiated with Nichols to surrender. Nichols surrendered shortly after to authorities Saturday 03-12-05 about 12:30 EST. and was taken into custody and transported to an FBI building.

Sergeant Teasley had served with the Fulton County Sheriff's Department for 18 years.
He is survived by his wife and two children.
 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agent David Wilhelm		Deputy Cynthia Hall		Judge Barnes Rowland
FBI agents guard the front of FBI headquarters		Murder suspect Brian Nichols is escorted by FBI Agents to FBI headquarters		Police lead a dog in front of the Fulton County courthouse
Law enforcement personnel with dogs search the area around the Fulton County Courthouse		Paramedics attempting to resuscitate a Fulton County, Georgia sheriff's Deputy Teasley		FBI personnel gear up for man hunt
Ambulances leave the scene of a courthouse shooting		Law enforcement personnel gather outside the Fulton County Courthouse		Paramedics attempting to resuscitate a Fulton County, Georgia sheriff's Deputy Teasley
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents search outside the Fulton County courthouse		Law enforcement and medical personnel gather outside the Lewis B. Fulton Courthouse		F.B.I. agent closes the back doors to a vehicle as a group of agents loaded up at an Atlanta
Medical personnel carry equipment into the Fulton County Courthouse		Killer Brian Nichols		Law enforcement and medical personnel gather outside the Lewis B. Fulton Courthouse
Brian Nichols Taken into custody		Law enforcement officers walk past vehicles at an apartment complex in Duluth, Ga., Saturday, March 12, 2005		Law enforcement officers search a vehicle as other officers surround an apartment complex where shooting suspect Brian Nichols was arrested in Duluth

Agency Information:
Fulton County Sheriff's Department
185 Central Ave, SW
9th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-730-1500

           CLICK HERE to post a condolence           


To SGT. HOYT TEASLEY YOU'LL BE MISSED BROTHER, AND TO YOUR FAMILY GOD'S GOING TO BE THERE IN THE TIME OF NEED.

Mark Scott
Private Security Officer
District Safety, CA

Date: 04/03/2005
Time: 10:09 AM


May God bless Sgt. Teasley's family and the members of the Fulton County Sheriff's

Midland Park Police Dept., NJ
Police Officer, Noah Van Vliet
noah522@optonline.net

Date: 03/22/2005
Time: 12:46 AM


God speed my brother. Rest in peace We have it from here.

Sgt, Larry Aliberti
Lawrence.aliberti@courts.phila.gov
Philadelphia Warrant Unit, PA

Date: 03/13/2005
Time: 10:31 PM


MAY GOD BLESS THE FAMILY OF THIS SLAIN OFFICER!!

LT. GAIL FRISBY
NATCHEZ MISSISSIPPI POLICE DEPARTMENT, MS
LADYG136@BELLSOUTH.NET

Date: 03/13/2005
Time: 05:08 PM


My family is praying for your family.
May God's arms surround you with the comfort you are needing.

Teresa Morris

Date: 03/12/2005
Time: 10:05 PM


My deepest sympathies go out to the family of Sgt Teasley. May God Bless you and Heaven Smile
upon You. To the Fulton County Sheriff's Office as well.

Deputy Michael A. Turner
Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office (SC)

Date: 03/12/2005
Time: 01:26 PM


My prayers are with the family of Sgt. Teasley and also with the fellow officer at this the most needed time for friends and family.. God Bless ...Gone but never Forgotten....Rest in Peace, Brother Teasley

Corrections Officer
James Webb
Talladega County Sheriff's Office.. Talladega, AL
IResQU6969@cableone.net

Date: 03/12/2005
Time: 04:06 AM


Walk tall, walk tall and protect us from above with honor and dignity. May you lead the charge for
citizens right in heaven as you did here on earth

Darrell Thompson
Privet Security Officer St. Clair Co. MI,
Community College Campus Patrol #14
darrell@policespecial.com
www.sc4.edu

Rest in peace, and may God allow him to keep watch over us on earth while he patrols his beat
in heaven. Our prayers go out to the Officer and his Department and family. May they all find peace in their hearts soon.

From all the Staff at Police Special Inc.