A man who was arrested in August following a 15-hour police standoff at a restaurant near the Democratic National Convention in Chicago is now being extradited back to Mississippi. The individual, identified as Joshua Zimmerman, had previously escaped from a county jail in Mississippi.
Confirmation of Zimmerman's extradition was provided by a spokesperson for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. The exact timing of his transfer was not disclosed, and it remains unclear whether Zimmerman has legal representation at this time.
The spokesperson emphasized that due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, no further details would be released at this point.
Zimmerman's arrest in Chicago occurred on August 21 at a seafood restaurant close to the United Center, where the Democratic National Convention was being held. Authorities clarified that there was no link or threat to the convention or its attendees. It was believed that Zimmerman was employed at the restaurant.
Zimmerman had escaped from the DeSoto County Courthouse in Hernando, Mississippi, on June 14 while he was not in restraints and was dressed in civilian clothing. At the time of his escape, he was facing charges in Mississippi for attempted murder and armed robbery, in addition to pending extradition to Texas for a murder charge.
Court records from Harris County, Texas, indicate that Zimmerman is accused of fatally shooting a woman named Keyanna Mercer at a Houston motel in September 2023. The incident occurred after both individuals were asked to vacate the premises due to disturbances. Mercer was found deceased in the room with a gunshot wound to the head.
Furthermore, Zimmerman had a prior arrest in Connecticut in 2022 on a felony sexual assault charge. He entered a plea of not guilty, posted bail, but later had a warrant issued for his re-arrest.
Following Zimmerman's apprehension in Chicago, the DeSoto County Sheriff's Department implemented enhanced security measures. A former deputy jailer was terminated from his position and faced charges related to facilitating a prisoner's escape.
