Murder suspect arrested after escaping in Gary

Screen capture of a video showing a murder suspect escape from custody Dec. 14, 2020, in Gary, Indiana. | Lake County sheriff’s office

A murder defendant was arrested Wednesday in East Chicago after he escaped from custody in northwest Indiana two weeks ago while being transported from Texas.

Leon Taylor was arrested after a brief foot chase 8:40 a.m. in the 4900 block of Indianapolis Boulevard, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said in a social media post.

“Our officers worked around the clock over the Christmas holiday and investigated every possible lead to bring this fugitive back into custody,” Martinez said.

Leon Taylor shown in custody Dec. 30 after escaping arrested weeks earlier in Gary, Indiana.

Taylor, 22, escaped from a private transport van Dec. 14 in Gary while in the process of being extradited to Lake County from Texas, the sheriff’s office said. He is wanted on a murder charge for a homicide in East Chicago.

Authorities released a video of his escape while he was inside the van at a McDonald’s at 35th and Grant streets in Gary.

The video shows the van stopped at the restaurant’s drive-thru when Taylor, who appears to be handcuffed, opens the back seat and flees. Moments later, the driver gets out of the car and runs after him.

Taylor’s cousin was arrested last week on charges of assisting him and trying to collect money for Taylor, police said.