Escaped Mississippi murder suspect Joshua Zimmerman arrested after Chicago standoff

Joshua Zimmerman, wanted for murder and on the run for 68 days, was taken into custody after barricading himself inside a Chicago restaurant. U.S. Marshals surrounded the site with SWAT teams overnight.

Murder suspect captured after overnight standoff at Chicago restaurant

Joshua Zimmerman, an escaped Mississippi inmate wanted on murder charges, was taken into custody early Wednesday morning after a hours-long standoff inside a restaurant in Chicago, according to abc11.com.

The U.S. Marshals Service located Zimmerman at a Chicago restaurant on Tuesday, some 68 days after he escaped from the DeSoto County Circuit Court Building in Mississippi on June 14. He barricaded himself inside the establishment, prompting the Chicago SWAT team to surround the building overnight. The standoff ended just after 7:30 a.m. CDT, when a man believed to be Zimmerman walked out in handcuffs.

Authorities confirmed Zimmerman was alone inside the restaurant during the standoff, and no civilians were at risk. Charges are pending.

68 days on the run

The investigation into Zimmerman's escape involved federal, state and local agencies over nearly two and a half months. A DeSoto County spokesperson said the agencies had deliberately kept details from the public to avoid misinformation.

"We have been working diligently for 68 days, alongside various organizations, to bring this case to a close," the spokesperson said. "We appreciate the public's patience as we have intentionally kept details quiet to avoid spreading misinformation."

Zimmerman escaped while being transported to the DeSoto County courthouse for a hearing with several other inmates. DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton said Zimmerman slipped away from the group, changed clothes and removed his shackles. Surveillance footage recorded him leaving the courthouse in khaki pants and a white shirt.

Murder charge and prior arrests

Zimmerman was charged with murdering a woman in Houston, Texas, in 2023. He was arrested on September 29, 2023, by Mississippi law enforcement on separate felony charges — including attempted murder, armed robbery, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and car theft.

He is described as 5-foot-11, weighing approximately 210 pounds, with tattoos on his neck and arms. Authorities believe he shaved his beard after his escape.

Extradition planned

Officials said extradition plans are underway. "We are eager to return Zimmerman to our detention facility so we can thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding his escape," the DeSoto County spokesperson said.

The case drew widespread media attention, including from public figures such as Dog the Bounty Hunter. DeSoto County deputies held a press conference Tuesday night, at which a spokesperson clarified that operational details of the Chicago standoff were being handled by the Marshals Service and the Chicago Police Department, as the situation fell outside local jurisdiction.

The U.S. Marshals Service had offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Zimmerman's capture.

Source: Google News GD — Crime