The Associated Press
CHICAGO- A federal courthouse was locked down Thursday and the courtrooms sealed after officials announced a man had escaped from U.S. marshals inside the building.
Officials announced over intercoms that they were searching floor-by-floor. It wasn’t immediately clear if the man was armed.
Larnell Rogers, who was accused of lying to an ATF agent and scheduled to appear in court, escaped after learning a warrant had been issued for his arrest, U.S. Marshals spokesman Kim Widup said. Authorities instructed court officials to lock all doors in the Everett M. Dirksen Federal Building after the escape.
Rogers apparently showed up late for a hearing, prompting U.S. District Judge Samuel Der-Yeghiayan to issue a bench warrant for his arrest. Rogers fled when he learned the warrant had been issued, Widup said. He described Rogers as nonviolent.
The 28-story glass-and-steel federal building is on the south side of Chicago’s downtown Loop.