Seven out of the ten prisoners who daringly broke out of a New Orleans jail on Friday remain at large, while three have been apprehended. Authorities believe the escapees had help from someone inside the facility.
The fugitives still on the run include individuals charged with murder, domestic abuse, and burglary. Law enforcement reports they have “strong” and “active” leads as numerous community tips continue to come in.
Officials indicated that some of the escapees might have already left the city or even the state of Louisiana. The public is advised to stay vigilant, not to panic, and to report any information. The FBI has stated it has “increased resources” and is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the capture of the inmates.
The 10 inmates who audaciously escaped from New Orleans jail on Friday. (Governor Jeff Landry)
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said Friday it’s unlikely the inmates could have escaped without some kind of help.
Attorney General Liz Murrill said that “clearly dropped the ball and there’s no excuse for this.”
She is calling for a full investigation of the incident.
Three employees have been placed on suspension pending the ongoing investigation.
Video cameras captured 10 inmates breaking out of a cell and running from Orleans Parish Justice Center, the main jail facility in New Orleans, before the group scaled a fence, using blankets to protect themselves from barbed wire, and ran across an interstate to a nearby neighborhood where they changed clothes.
A female civilian employee monitoring the pod “stepped away” to get food and missed the getaway, according to authorities.
Officials said the video feed was not being actively monitored at the time, but it was reviewed after the inmates were discovered missing hours later.
Three jail employees have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, authorities said.
The gaping hole used by the escapees, which appeared to have been hidden behind a toilet, was in a first-floor jail cell.
Inmates wrote “To Easy LOL” and “WE INNOCENT,” among other things, near the large rectangular hole.
It is unclear whether the opening was created by the inmates or if it was already present. Chief of Corrections Jeworski “Jay” Mallett said the hole could not have been created from the inside.
“We know that this could not be removed from the inside, so we are investigating that to see exactly who entered these areas, what kind of work was done, if there was work being done and if this is an inside job,” Mallett said.
Among the security issues identified by officials were faulty cell doors and low staffing.
The jail is only at 60% staffing, and at the time of the escape, four supervisors and 36 staff members were monitoring 1,400 inmates, authorities said.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is calling for a full investigation of the incident. (Louisiana Attorney General’s Office)
The escapees were not discovered missing until a routine headcount at 8:30 a.m. Friday.
The three captured inmates and their charges are:
- Dkenan Dennis, 24, charged with two counts of armed robbery with a firearm, illegal carrying of a weapon, illegal possession of stolen things, extortion, theft of a firearm by misappropriation, possession of firearm during a crime of violence, illegal transmission of monetary funds and simple battery.
- Robert L. Moody, 21, charged with aggravated second degree battery, illegal carrying of a weapon, obstruction of justice, two counts of illegal possession of stolen things and other drug charges.
- Kendell Myles, 20, charged with intentional concealment of a weapon, possession of contraband in prison, attempted second-degree murder, simple criminal damage to property, discharging a firearm during a violent crime, criminal conspiracy to armed robbery, armed robbery with a firearm and aggravated flight from an officer with life endangered.
The fugitives on the run are:
- Gary C. Price, 21, charged with seven counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree battery, aggravated assault with a firearm, false imprisonment with a weapon, domestic abuse, simple assault, aggravated criminal damage to property and resisting an officer.
- Corey E. Boyd, 19, charged with second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery, illegal carrying of weapons involving a crime, and obstruction of justice.
- Lenton J. Vanburen Jr., 26, charged with illegal carrying of weapons, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon, obstruction of justice and introducing contraband in prison.
- Jermaine Donald, 42, charged with second-degree murder, aggravated battery, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon and obstruction of justice.
- Antoine Massey, 32, charged with domestic abuse involving strangulation, theft of a motor vehicle and a parole violation.
- Derrick Groves, 27, charged with three counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and battery of a correctional facility employee.
- Leo O. Tate Sr., 31, charged with simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon, illegal carrying of a weapon, motor vehicle theft and multiple drug charges.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
