Tonight, an urgent multi-state manhunt for a murder suspect. On Friday, authorities say 30-year-old Joshua Zimmerman escaped from a courthouse in Hernando, Mississippi, about 26 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee.

This individual is very violent. He's conniving. He will do anything he can to try to elude.

According to officials, Zimmerman was transported from jail to the courtroom with a group of other inmates, but he disappeared as was in line to enter.

In the process of walking up the stairs, Zimmerman basically just cut from the line and went through an unlocked door in the stairwell.

Surveillance images released from the DeSoto Sheriff's office show Zimmerman emerge out of shackles and in street clothes. The district attorney telling us his office is now wondering what happened behind that door.

There's a lot of questions about, how does that happen? How do you get out of the shackles? How do you change clothes and then just walk out the building.

Authorities telling us they believe a stranger unknowingly helped him cross state lines into Tennessee.

We believe that someone, a good Samaritan, gave him a ride from Fernando to Memphis. As of right now, we still believe he's in the Memphis area.

At the time of his escape, Zimmerman was facing attempted murder and armed robbery charges in Mississippi, but fled before entering a plea. Us marshals say he was also wanted in the state of Texas for a murder in Houston.

He obviously has the capability to travel, and we want everybody to be on the lookout.

Authorities are warning he should be considered armed and dangerous, and they are offering a $10,000 reward for any information that may lead to his arrest.

All right, Gwad Venegas joins us tonight from the Telemundo Center, Miami. You know, Gwad, you listen to that report and you just ask yourself, how could this happen? He gets out of the shackles, the door is unlocked, he has closed there. What else did the district attorney tell you about the way this man was able to escape?

Tom, the district attorney has a lot of questions, the same questions we have. Now, here's the key thing. He himself has not been able to see those security videos. It's the Sheriff's office that has the videos. When we spoke, he told me that he was able to get that screenshot, the image from someone. Then he verified that and the district attorney was able to see it, but he hasn't been able to see those videos. Also, that building, security for that building is controlled by the Sheriff's office. It's going to be their investigation that will reveal some of those details. Now, the sheriff's office, Tom, did share more information, details that we have shared here, and the photos of what the suspect looks like with a beard and without a beard because they believe he could have shaven that facial hair to change his appearance. They want people to keep that in mind, Tom.

He looks pretty different without the beard.

Thanks for watching. Stay updated about breaking news and top stories on the NBC News app or follow us on social media.