Prosecutor Left Paralyzed in Infamous Courthouse Hostage Fight Dies
The metal detectors, bag searches and armed bailiffs that are standard in courthouses today—this is where it started. In a courtroom in San Rafael, California in 1970 where a horrifying hostage standoff left a judge dead and an assistant DA paralyzed. But Gary Thomas, who went on to become a judge, was never bitter. "I feel blessed," he said.
April 05, 2017 at 08:50 PM
6 minute read
The metal detectors, bag searches and armed bailiffs that are standard in courthouses today—this is where it started.
In a courtroom in San Rafael, California in 1970, during a trial involving inmates from San Quentin prison. A spectator smuggled in guns—weapons purchased by counterculture activist Angela Davis. The inmates took Judge Harold Haley, prosecutor Gary Thomas and three women jurors hostage, herding them into a getaway van.
In the ensuing gun battle, Haley was killed and Thomas—who managed to grab a weapon from one of his captors, and shot three of them—was left paralyzed from the waist down.
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