THIS is the shocking moment ten inmates – some even convicted killers – broke out of a New Orleans jail while a staff member was on her food break.

Only three fugitives have been recaptured, three jail staff have been suspended – and seven men are still on the loose.

Police discovered the prisoners were missing from the Orleans Parish Justice Center in New Orleans during an 8.30 am head count on Friday morning.

The men escaped through a hole in their cell behind the toilet, according to The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, who released images of the scene.

They reportedly crawled into a pipe chase, made their way to a loading dock and and then scaled the prison wall.

In shocking surveillance footage, two men are seen kicking and pulling at a door before yanking it open.

Separate footage shows the moment all ten inmates bolt from their cell block.

Another video then reveals the men exiting the prison premises, using blankets to scale a barbed wire fence.

Finally, the inmates can be seen sprinting across a dimly lit motorway.

Police have revealed that only one staff member was assigned to their cell pod.

The civilian technician was eating at the time of their escape – and it was only after several hours that the prison break discovered.

Three prison staff have been suspended, according to The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office.

It is unclear whether the woman on her food break was among them.

Hours after the escape, inmate Kendell Myles was found hiding underneath a car in a hotel parking garage in the French Quarter.

Later on in the day, Robert Moody and Dkenan Dennis were the second and third escaped inmates to have been captured by cops. 

The remaining seven are still at large.

The specifics of how the fugitives managed to escape remain uncertain, but officials have stated they are investigating the possibility of involvement by correctional officers.

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said on Friday that the inmates could have been given tools to assist with their escape.

She said: “It’s almost impossible, not completely, but almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help.”

She said the men were able to get out of as a result of “defective locks”.

It is also unclear how some of the men obtained regular clothes.

Hutson said her department was working with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to search for the inmates.

An official commented: “We are initiating a comprehensive investigation to uncover how this escape was executed, which includes examining facility procedures, staff conduct, and physical security measures.”

Orleans Parish district attorney Jason Williams said: “These inexcusable failures have put lives in danger.

“This represents a complete failure of the most basic responsibilities entrusted to a sheriff or jail administrator.”

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill similarly said the escape was “beyond unacceptable”.

She said local authorities should have informed the public sooner.

She added that the inmates have had plenty of time to get to “frankly anywhere across the country”.

THE CHARGES FACED BY THE FUGITIVES

The escapees have been identified as Antoine Massey, Lenton Vanburen, Leo Tate, Kendell Myles, Derrick Groves, Jermain Donald, Corey Boyd, Gary Price, Robert Moody, Decannon Dennis, and Keith Lewis.

Myles, 20, faces charges for concealing a weapon, bringing contraband into prison, and possession of contraband.

He has a history of escape. In July 2022, he escaped Bridge City Center, then was accused of carjacking and shooting a man in Uptown New Orleans.

He was indicted in that case.

Groves, 27, is an accused killer who was arrested on a second-degree murder charge and an attempted second-degree murder charge.

Donald, 42, has also been arrested on a second-degree murder charge and has been accused of aggravated battery and possession of a firearm.

Boyd, 20, is another at-large criminal who is accused of second-degree murder and aggravated battery.

Massey, 33, was jailed on domestic abuse charges involving strangulation and car theft.

Vanburen, 27, was arrested for illegally carrying weapons, obstruction of justice, and introducing contraband into prison.

Tate, 31, was arrested for burglary, possession of a firearm, and illegally carrying a weapon with a controlled substance.

Moody, 21, was arrested on weapons and drug charges.

Price, 21, was arrested for simple assault, criminal damage, domestic abuse, battery, and assault with a weapon.

Dennis, 24, was arrested for multiple illegal weapons charges, extortion, kidnapping, armed robbery, and theft.