A 13-year-old boy who faces two murder charges fled a government building in North Carolina shortly before he appeared in court, prompting security authorities to mount an unprecedented manhunt to arrest him again.
The Independent newspaper said the British named Jericho W. fled barefoot and handcuffed legs, and that he fled when he was due to appear in court on charges of murder, theft and possession of a dangerous weapon.
A spokesman for the Robson County Sheriff's Office, which witnessed the escape, said that after the hearing, the accused was waiting in the detention area with two other prisoners.
According to ABC News 15, Jericho fled as soon as the holding area was opened to the forest, and his escape triggered an unprecedented manhunt. Officials have issued a public safety warning.
Jericho was arrested on 17 October on suspicion of double murder, according to Waral.
A spokesman for the provincial public safety department reported that officials were very concerned about the safety of both the accused and the general public because of Jericho's history of aggressive and unexpected behavior, and called on the public to inform local law enforcement officials if they saw the child.
Officials circulated the child's personal name and image by reference to the North Carolina law, which allows a minor to be named in such circumstances, and said they were looking for him using helicopters.
On the other hand, Nicky Jacobs, the mother of the accused, hopes to surrender her son himself.``My child is here somewhere nobody knows him but he is alone.I hope he is safe wherever he is and I hope he will return and surrender and get the help he needs. ''