Inmate Who Escaped Texas Courthouse During Courtroom Brawl Back in Custody

Houston, Texas – An inmate who made a daring escape from a Texas courthouse amid a courtroom brawl is now back in custody, confirmed the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).

Michael Devon Combs, a 32-year-old, managed to free himself from leg irons and bolted from the 176th courtroom at approximately 10 a.m. on a Tuesday. However, the escape was short-lived, as he was apprehended again on Thursday morning.

Combs’ attorney, Mark Lipkin, revealed that he was with Combs in the holding area right before the escape. Lipkin recounted, “I had my back to him when everything happened. I mean, if I were just able to give him some advice, I would have told him it’s not smart to do that. Don’t do it.”

Combs had been facing a hearing where his bond was set to be revoked due to allegations of tampering with a GPS monitor and failing to pay court fees, as reported by the New York Post. The court was expected to set a higher bond amount.

Combs had been accused of assaulting his girlfriend, which included choking her, in March 2022.

The escape occurred amidst a courtroom fracas in a nearby courtroom. The brawl involved the family of a 16-year-old girl who had been shot 22 times in the back, and the murder suspect was in the process of accepting a plea deal. Seizing the chaotic moment, Combs allegedly made his escape.

Frank DeLeon Jr. was in court to plead guilty for the 2022 fatal shooting of his 16-year-old ex-girlfriend, Diamond Alvarez. The confrontation ignited when Alvarez’s mother, Anna Machado, labeled DeLeon a “monster” during her victim impact statement, according to FOX 26 Houston. Video footage from the courtroom captured Machado approaching DeLeon, but a bailiff quickly intervened. Another family member then charged at DeLeon, leading to a physical altercation between the two men. Machado’s mother and DeLeon’s mother also got involved.

Court security swiftly intervened to restore order in the Houston courtroom. However, amidst the chaos, inmate Michael Combs managed to slip away. HCSO Major Lynette Anderson explained, “Once they hit the panic button, then the deputies left to go assist, and he was sitting there. Somehow, in some kind of way, he got out of the shackles and walked out of the courtroom, got on the elevator, and walked out of the building. Once he got out of the building, he took off his ankle monitor.”

A task force was activated to track down and recapture Combs, who now faces an additional felony escape charge, according to FOX 26 Houston.