BOSTON-A man being brought into federal court court on a bank robbery charge escaped U.S. Marshals yesterday and was fired on twice as he fled on foot through downtown Boston.

It was apparently the second time Michael Lavoie, of Salem, had escaped federal custody in the past six months, officials said. He had been scheduled to appear in federal court on a bank robbery charge.

Lavoie escaped shortly after 8 a.m. as he and other prisoners who had been brought in a van from the Essex County Jail were being led into Boston's federal courthouse, the U.S. Marshals office said.

It was unclear how Lavoie, who was apparently in shackles, managed to free himself. But U.S.Marshals said he fled on foot and headed north towards the Quincy Market area.

U.S.Marshals fired two shots at Lavoie, but it was unclear if he had been hit, officials said.