MIAMI, Nov 7: Authorities on Wednesday locked down 283 schools in Florida, as police conducted a massive manhunt for a convict who escaped after he shot and killed a police official.

All schools in Broward County were shut down as police combed the area near Fort Lauderdale for the suspect, who was eventually tracked down to a pawn shop and arrested.

A schools department spokesman said the shutdown had been ordered as a precaution to ensure the safety of the children.

The suspect, Michael Mazza, escaped while being taken to a Fort Lauderdale court, apparently stole a policeman’s gun, and shot the official, who died of his wounds after being taken to hospital.

Broward county’s sheriff told journalists that Mazza, 40, was arrested but that police were still looking for possible accomplices.—AFP