Full story at http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/07/officer.shot/

POMPANO BEACH, Florida (CNN) -- A prisoner under transport to court Wednesday overpowered and shot a deputy accompanying him before escaping in the transport van, a Broward County Sheriff's Office spokesman said.

Michael Mazza is suspected of shooting a sheriff's deputy and escaping in a prisoner transport vehicle.

Spokesman Elliot Cohen said authorities are hunting for suspect Michael Mazza, 40, who was on his way to appear in court in Fort Lauderdale on a robbery charge.

Mazza, who was serving two life sentences for robbery, was in a wheelchair in the transport van because of complaints of back pain. Cohen said authorities now suspect Mazza was faking.

The white transport van, with green stripes and "Sheriff" written on the side, was found shortly before 10 a.m. ET in a parking lot of a residential area in northern Broward County, CNN's John Zarrella reported.

The discovery prompted officials to put 19 schools in the Pompano Beach area on lockdown as authorities looked for Mazza, who is believed to be carrying the deputy's weapon.

The sheriff's deputy is in critical condition at North Broward Medical Center, Cohen said. Watch Cohen deliver a warning to anyone who helps an escapee »

Mazza is white, 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighs 200 pounds and has dark hair and blue eyes, officials said. He was wearing a gray suit and white shirt for his court appearance, officials said.

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The suspect may have gotten into a white 2006 Nissan Maxima or Altima with license number W84 QZY, CNN affiliate WSVN in Miami reported.