In the early hours of Friday morning, ten inmates escaped from a prison in New Orleans. According to officials, they are considered “armed and extremely dangerous.” A statement from the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office indicates that the escapees likely had inside help, casting further doubt on the prison’s internal security protocols.
Three of the inmates were quickly recaptured, while seven remain on the run. Police have launched an extensive manhunt in cooperation with federal agencies. Citizens have been urged to remain vigilant and not to approach individuals matching the suspects’ descriptions, but instead to contact authorities immediately.
Interestingly, the situation initially seemed even more dramatic—the sheriff’s office first reported that 11 inmates had escaped. However, later in the day, the number was corrected to ten after it was determined that Keith Lewis had been mistakenly identified as an escapee.
At a press conference, Sheriff Susan Hutson clarified that it was an administrative error and stated that an internal investigation would be launched to determine who was responsible for the mistake and whether there was any internal complicity in the escape.
The incident has sparked widespread public reaction, and an urgent review of security measures within Louisiana’s prison system is expected.
“There is no way someone could walk out of this facility without inside help,” Hutson said. The inmates were discovered missing during a routine headcount at 8:30 a.m. local time, though it is believed they escaped shortly after midnight.
According to the sheriff, at approximately 12:23 a.m., the inmates ripped off the sliding door of their cell, and by 1:01 a.m., they exited the prison after breaching a wall behind the toilet. They removed the toilet and bolts using unspecified bathroom items, then scaled down a wall and ran across a highway.
The sheriff’s office released footage of the escape, showing the inmates running out of the facility and crossing the highway. The escapees also left mocking messages for the guards, including the phrase “too easy, LOL.”
Yesterday, Louisiana State Police announced that the three captured inmates had been transferred to a “secure state facility,” and the search for the others remains active, involving multiple agencies. The reward for information leading to the arrest of the fugitives has been raised to a total of $12,000 (€10,750), Index.hr
Hutson emphasized that there was likely a security lapse and that the inmates had assistance from staff or deputies. She also pointed out that the cell locks were malfunctioning and that she had been requesting funds for security upgrades for years—without success.
One of the escapees, Kendell Myles, was caught in downtown New Orleans thanks to facial recognition from a surveillance camera and was found hiding under a car in the Monteleone Hotel parking garage. The other two, Robert Moody and Dkenan Dennis, were also returned to custody on Friday.
Police have stated that the remaining fugitives are likely still in New Orleans, and the prison is currently under lockdown. The search involves local, state, and federal agencies, including the FBI and U.S. Marshals. Most of the escapees have been charged with murder or other violent crimes, and for safety reasons, some victims and their families have been relocated.
The public has been warned that anyone aiding the fugitives will be prosecuted. The sheriff’s office has partially blamed the city administration for the lack of funding for security improvements, noting that replacing the prison’s locks would cost $5.2 million (€4.66 million).