After a standoff at a restaurant near the United Center on Tuesday, Aug. 20, where the Democratic National Convention is being held, U.S. marshals captured a fugitive wanted for murder and armed robbery. Authorities have been pursuing Joshua Zimmerman since he escaped from a Mississippi courthouse on June 14.
Zimmerman is wanted for murder in Houston, Texas, and faces charges of attempted murder and armed robbery in Mississippi.
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The 68-day manhunt spanned more than 500 miles, and authorities said they were not sure how he got to the Chicago area.
According to marshals, Zimmerman barricaded himself inside a Chicago restaurant Tuesday night and engaged in a standoff with law enforcement that lasted into Wednesday morning.
Chicago SWAT surrounded the building for more than 12 hours, and authorities eventually took Zimmerman into custody.
The incident has intensified security measures around the DNC and sparked calls for a review of inmate handling procedures.
Mississippi authorities are hoping Zimmerman will be extradited back to their jurisdiction to face additional charges.
“We are eager to return Zimmerman to our detention facility so we can thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding his escape,” a DeSoto County spokesperson said.
