Police Release Surveillance Video of Murder Suspect Escaping In Drive-Thru

Police in Northwestern Indiana released surveillance footage Tuesday after a murder suspect escaped from a vehicle in a McDonald's drive-thru.

22-year-old Leon Taylor was being transported from Texas to Lake County to face a murder charge.

The video shows him escaping from the SUV, which was contracted by REDI Transports, in the McDonald's drive-thru during a lunch stop. He's seen exiting the vehicle, managing to get free from the leg brace that was holding him, and taking off across the street.

Taylor was last seen wearing a gray hoodie with an additional black hoodie underneath of it, black Puma tennis shoes, and black jeans. He is 6' tall, weighs 162lbs, has hazel eyes and brown hair.

He is wanted on a murder charge in East Chicago and is known to frequent the areas of Gary, East Chicago and Hammond.

Anyone knowing his whereabouts is asked to 9-1-1 immediately, as he is considered to be dangerous.

Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. wasn't happy with the REDI Transport driver in the statement he released about the incident.

“After watching this video, I am highly disturbed and disappointed by the procedures the private transportation driver used during the transfer of this suspect to our jail,” said Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr.

“In the first video clip we provided,  about 11 seconds in,  the suspect appears to be struggling with his leg brace, and no shackles were used,” Sheriff Martinez said. “We believe shackles could have prevented the suspect from getting away,” he said.  “We also believe the suspect may have been manipulating his leg brace during the trip and was apparently continuing to disable the device when he exited the SUV,” the sheriff said.

“After acquiring these surveillance videos, Lake County Sheriff’s Department investigators were able to reveal conflicting statements made to our officers by the driver,” Sheriff Martinez said.  “This driver initially told our officers the suspect jumped out of a window, but the video clearly shows him exiting through a door to the vehicle.  We are looking into this matter as part of an extensive review of the case.”

“I find it appalling that REDI Transports failed to use appropriate caution and may have put the public at risk.”

Read more at WGN9