A mass prison escape has sparked panic in Louisiana after 11 violent inmates – including at least three murderers – broke loose from Orleans Parish Jail. The shocking incident happened at around 8.30am on Friday, May 16, with local police launching a major search operation.
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson told reporters that faulty locks were to blame for the escape. She said: “Folks are normally locked down in this facility at 10.30pm, but these folks who were able to get out did so because of defective locks on the cells. I’ve talked about those locks since I’ve got into office.”
The state’s furious Attorney General has already called for a full investigation into the circumstances. All of the escapees are considered “armed and dangerous” – and prison bosses didn’t realise anyone was missing until a routine head count took place this morning. It has since been revealed that the prisoners fled some hours earlier at around midnight local time.
Of the 11 escapees – only one has been caught so far. Kendell Myles, 20, was captured by police shortly before midday after he spotted on CCTV footage in the French quarter of the city. The other 10 remain at large as police scramble to find them, with local officials panicked over the mass jail escape.
The local sheriff’s office confirmed that he was Myles was found underneath a car at the Hotel Monteleone parking garage, where Louisiana State Troopers chased him on foot. He is safely back in custody.
Among those still on the loose are Lenton Venburen, 26, and Leo Tate, 32 – who are both serving sentences for carrying illegal weapons. Jermaine Donald, 42, was serving a sentence for murder and aggravated burglary while Antoine Massey, 32, was jailed for domestic abuse and theft. Meanwhile 21-year-old Gary Price, another escapee, was found guilty on three counts of attempted murder. Corey Boyd, 20, and 27-year-old Derrick Groves, were the other two serving sentences for myrder alongside Donald.
Louisiana’s Attorney General Liz Murrill said on X: “Someone clearly dropped the ball and there’s no excuse for this. I’m in communication with Troop NOLA and LA State Police Superintendent Colonel Hodges. It’s all hands on deck. The first priority in any escape must be the immediate capture of the inmates and coordination with state and local law enforcement – but that effort cannot come at the expense of timely notification to the public, which is also critical to keeping communities safe.
“My office will do whatever it takes to determine how this happened and make sure that it won’t happen again. I am calling for a full investigation – This is beyond unacceptable, and once these offenders are back in custody, there must be real accountability.”
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson added: “We are launching a full investigation to determine how this escape occurred, including reviewing facility protocols, staff performance and physical security measures.”