Fugitive accused of murder barricaded himself in Chicago restaurant near Democratic Convention

Chicago police say a man who escaped from a Mississippi court and was wanted by U.S. marshals on murder and armed robbery charges confronted city officers after barricading himself in a restaurant blocks from the Democratic National Convention.

The suspect, identified as Justin Zimmerman, has been sought by the U.S. Marshals Service since he escaped on June 14.

He was located on Tuesday, August 20, at the Chicago restaurant, Justin Smith, chief deputy of the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office in Mississippi, revealed to The Associated Press.

Multiple charges against him

The U.S. Marshals Service said Zimmerman escaped from the circuit court building in Hernando, Mississippi, where he was being held on charges of attempted murder and armed robbery.

The offender is also awaiting extradition to Houston, Texas, where he was charged with the murder of a woman in 2023, the Marshals Service added.

Seeking connection with DNC

Authorities have not made clear how Zimmerman was tracked down after two months in Chicago, and whether there was any connection to the Democratic National Convention, which is about a half-mile from the United Center.

Speaking to reporters, Smith said Zimmerman was “barricaded inside that restaurant” and that authorities want to bring him back to Mississippi and “gather the remaining facts surrounding his escape.”

So far, Chicago authorities have not confirmed whether they have arrested the fugitive, so the news is still developing.

With information from AP

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