Man escapes courthouse minutes after murder conviction

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[Omar has a long history. I remember him from several years ago, when his main careeer was stealing cars. He got out of jail once and was almost immediately rearrested in a stolen car. He was, of course, jailed on a stolen car charge. Omar isn't too bright. Anyway, he was frecaptured after a foot chase, about 45 minutes ago, around 8:15 tonight. Someone saw him at a gas station and tipped off police.]

By ERIC OLSON eolson@heraldsun.com Dec 13, 2002 : 4:21 pm ET

DURHAM -- Moments after he was convicted of first-degree murder, Omar Lionel Reed put a knife to the throat of a detention officer and pulled a daring escape from the Durham County Courthouse Friday afternoon.

Reed, 23,is facing life in prison following the conviction in the June 2000 slaying of 31-year-old William Teasley, who was shot through the heart on West Enterprise Street.

About 30 minutes after his conviction, Durham County Sheriff’s Detention Officer Phyliss Lawrence took Reed to a holding cell in the basement of the courthouse while jurors adjourned for lunch, sheriff’s Maj. Lucy Zastrow said. When Lawrence removed Reed’s handcuffs to give him lunch, Reed allegedly pulled out a "shank," or a homemade knife, and held it to Lawrence’s throat around 1 p.m., Zastrow said.

He then placed his handcuffs on Lawrence, pushed her into the cell, locked the door and escaped, she said.

Sheriff’s officials and Durham police combed the area surrounding the courthouse and fanned out across the city to find a man Zastrow said should be considered armed and dangerous.

Dep. K.A. Starkey and a Durham police officer visited Reed’s home at 48-A Dayton St., where she spoke to Reed’s mother. They did not find Reed there. Reed stands 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs about 190 pounds. He was last seen wearing a white, long-sleeved dress shirt and black pants.

Lawrence was being checked at a local hospital Friday afternoon for injuries, Zastrow said.

"She’s extremely shaken up, hysterical," Zastrow said.

Authorities were meeting at the sheriff’s office to create a list of locations Reed may try to go and to formulate a plan of attack, Zastrow said. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 560-0900 or CrimeStoppers at 683-1200.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2002


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