A man linked to the Rio Claro Courthouse killing of Peter Garcia surrendered to police on Wednesday.

He asked to turn State witness and for protection in exchange for his information.

Acting Police Commissioner James Philbert confirmed last evening that a man was being questioned in connection with the case.

The man’s information is said to be crucial to solving the murder of Garcia, who was shot dead while being escorted from the courtroom by two unarmed police officers. The policemen ran.

Garcia, who was handcuffed, died when both men shot him.

The magistrate, police and people in court went looking for places to hide.

The killers, dressed like construction workers, escaped by climbing a chain linked fence, and left before policemen from the station sharing a compound with the court responded.

Philbert said there would be swift justice.

He said the response of law enforcement would ’show criminals we are in charge’.

’Today we have lost some ground in the sense that criminals can be so boldface to do that. I want to promise the nation that we will find these men and bring them to justice in the quickest time,’ Philbert had said after the brazen killing.

That was 12 days ago. Five suspects questioned in the case have been released for lack of evidence, and leads ran cold.

Garcia was in prison custody charged with murder and wounding with intent to murder. He was killed because his enemies believed he would be freed on the charges.

The man helping police has information about who owned the car used by the killers to flee Rio Claro. The car has been seized as evidence in the case. The owner said the car was taken without his permission.

Images of the faces of the suspected killers have been distributed to police officers searching for the killers. The sketches were based on the recollection of three witnesses - a security guard and the two policemen who ran.