A Mississippi fugitive has been arrested after barricading himself in a Chicago restaurant near the Democratic National Convention (DNC).
Joshua Zimmerman, 31, was taken into custody at 7:20 a.m. on Wednesday after a 14-hour standoff with law enforcement, the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office in Hernando, Mississippi, reported.
![Joshua Zimmerman, who escaped from a Mississippi courthouse in June. (U.S. Marshals Service via AP)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F08%2F21%2Fid5710101-AP24234460304842-e1724262486799-600x688.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
In June, Mr. Zimmerman reportedly fled from the DeSoto County Courthouse, where he was in custody on murder and armed robbery charges.
He was also facing extradition to Houston, Texas, where he was charged with murder, the U.S. Marshals Service told The Associated Press.
Law enforcement officials haven’t said why Zimmerman barricaded himself alone in a restaurant a half-mile from the United Center in Chicago where the DNC was being held on its second night, when former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama spoke.
No link has been reported between Zimmerman and the DNC.
The Epoch Times contacted the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and the U.S. Marshals Service for more information.
DeSoto County Sheriff Thomas Tuggle said his officers are in Chicago and “fully prepared to commence the next phase of our investigation.”
“This arrest is the culmination of two months of intense effort and underscores our determination to hold criminals accountable,” Sheriff Tuggle said.
“Throughout this investigation, we have operated with the utmost discretion. True professionals understand the importance of maintaining silence during the hunt, and we will continue to strictly adhere to this principle.”