An escaped inmate from Mississippi, involved in a tense face-off with law enforcement, was reportedly taken into custody at a West Side Chicago seafood restaurant Wednesday morning. The U.S. Marshals Service characterized Joshua Zimmerman, whose escape had earlier catapulted him to "major case fugitive" status, as "armed and very dangerous," according to NBC Chicago. Zimmerman was apprehended around 8 a.m.
Following his June 14 escape during a courthouse hearing, Zimmerman eluded capture for over two months. As reported by NBC Chicago, during the court recess, the inmate slipped out in pajamas, and crossed the road to a gas station, persuading a man to transport him to Memphis. The DeSoto County Sheriff's Office stated that Zimmerman had no accomplice in his escape.
The nearly 15-hour standoff initiated on Tuesday evening, trapping Zimmerman alone within the seafood restaurant located just blocks away from the Democratic National Convention's venue at the United Center. However, the U.S. Marshals Service dismissed any threat to the DNC, clarifying "no connection or threat to the event or those attending" from Zimmerman's presence nearby, as stated by NBC Chicago.
Authorities had been tracking Zimmerman across multiple states since the escape. CBS Chicago detailed that when efforts to arrest him were made Tuesday, Zimmerman opted for a ceiling retreat, where he barricaded himself inside. The Chicago Police Department's SWAT team later secured the scene.
