NEW ORLEANS — A man claiming to be Antoine Massey, an escapee from a New Orleans jail, posted videos on social media while evading law enforcement, which led to a police raid aiming to capture him, an Associated Press source indicates.
Authorities considered the videos to be genuine and searched a New Orleans residence late Monday, believing it to be the filming location, according to a law enforcement official who wished to remain anonymous as they were not permitted to publicly comment on the ongoing case.
Massey was not at the home, the official said, but authorities did locate some clothing they believe he wore during the filming.
Relatives who recognized the home Massey was speaking from alerted authorities about the videos uploaded on Sunday. The ownership of the home in question remains unclear.
Authorities say they are investigating the videos as they race to recapture Massey and convicted murderer Derrick Groves more than two weeks after their audacious escape from a New Orleans jail. Eight other escapees have been apprehended.
Louisiana State Police, the agency leading the search for the fugitives, declined to comment on whether it had verified Massey’s identity in the videos. The agency carried out the search related to the videos, which have since been removed from Instagram.
The New Orleans Police Department said it “cannot confirm the authenticity” of the videos circulating on social media seemingly showing a man with the same facial tattoos as Massey sitting near a kitchen.
“Please, I’m asking for help,” said Massey, appealing to President Donald Trump and several rappers including Lil Wayne, a New Orleans native, in one video. “When I get back in custody I’m asking y’all please to come and help.”
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson called on Massey to “come forward and turn himself in.”
“Cooperating with law enforcement is in his best interest and may help avoid additional charges,” Hutson said in an emailed statement. “It is important that justice is served appropriately and that due process is followed.”
Massey, 32, faced charges of rape, kidnapping, domestic violence involving strangulation and violation of a protective order all stemming from a November 2024 incident, St. Tammany Parish authorities say. In Orleans Parish, where he was incarcerated, he faced charges of motor vehicle theft and domestic battery.
Massey said he was innocent.
Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
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