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 of the ten fugitives have reportedly been recaptured, while three jail staff have been suspended.
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, moved onto a loading dock before scaling the jail wall.
In shocking surveillance footage, two men can be seen kicking and tugging 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 jail cell.
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.
It’s unclear how the fugitives were able to break loose, but officials said they were investigating whether any correctional officers had helped them out.
They fear the inmates could have been given tools to assist with their escape, as it was “impossible without help”, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said on Friday.
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said her department was working with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to search for the inmates.
She added: “We are launching a full investigation to determine how this escape occurred, including reviewing facility protocols, staff performance 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.”
THE CHARGES FACED BY THE FUGITIVES
The inmates behind the prison break were 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.
