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By Gabe Whisnant
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Authorities in Louisiana are actively searching for nine of the 10 inmates who escaped from the Orleans Parish Justice Center in New Orleans. According to Louisiana State Police, one of the escapees was captured Friday following a brief foot chase through the nearby French Quarter, the agency announced on X.
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said later on Friday there are signs that the 10 inmates who escaped from a New Orleans jail may have "received assistance in their escape from individuals inside of our department."
The escape was first discovered during a routine headcount on Friday morning, when officials realized the inmates were missing.
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All of the escaped inmates are considered to be armed and dangerous. Their charges range from illegal weapons possession to second-degree murder. The escapees range from 19 years old to 42. Most of the men are in their 20s.
In a statement to Newsweek, the sheriff's office said, "The Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office is putting the public on alert as deputies and partner agencies are searching for detainees who escaped custody Friday, May 16. OPSO is working with local and state law enforcement agencies on the search to return them to custody. OPSO will provide additional information as the investigation precedes."
What to Know About the Escaped New Orleans Inmates
The inmates are: Dkenan Dennis, Gary C. Price, Robert Moody, Kendell Myles, Corey E. Boyd, Lenton J. VanBuren Jr., Jermaine Donald, Antoine T. Massey, Derrick D. Groves, Leo O. Tate Sr.
According to the sheriff's office, Myles is back in custody after he was apprehended and returned by the Louisiana State Police. Earlier reporting from the sheriff's office stated that Keith A. Lewis had also escaped but he remains in custody.
"This morning, following reports of multiple inmates escaping from the Orleans Parish Jail, Troop NOLA Troopers immediately initiated investigative efforts to assist in the search. Utilizing intelligence-led techniques, Troopers successfully located Kendall Myles, one of the escapees in the French Quarter," Louisiana State Police posted on Facebook. "As Troopers attempted to make contact, the individual fled on foot. After a brief pursuit, the escapee was apprehended on Royal Street without further incident."
The statement continued, "Troopers continue to work closely with our local, state, and federal partners as the search remains active for the remaining escapees. Our priority remains the safety of the community and the swift apprehension of those still at large."
One of the escaped inmates, Groves, was convicted last year on two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder for his role in a 2018 Mardi Gras Day shooting that left two men dead and two others wounded. The Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office described Groves as a "heinous criminal," noting that the surviving victims were left "physically and emotionally scarred" by the violence. Court records also show Groves currently faces a separate charge of battery against a correctional facility employee.
Another fugitive, Boyd, is awaiting trial on a second-degree murder charge. He has pleaded not guilty.
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How Did the Orleans Parish Inmates Escape?
Investigators are examining a small opening inside a jail cell that is believed to have allowed at least one inmate to escape into a maintenance corridor, according to one current and one former law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly.
The AP obtained a photograph showing the opening, which the current official confirmed is the one under investigation. The former official, who previously worked at the jail for several years, said such an opening is usually concealed behind a sink and toilet—fixtures that may have been removed to enable the escape.
"That's how they escaped," the current official said, adding investigators were reviewing surveillance footage that captured the jailbreak.
Fox 8 New Orleans' Andrés Fuentes posted a photo on X, formerly Twitter, of a hole in the wall of the Orleans jail where the inmates allegedly escaped.
Messages are written around the hole, including "To Easy LOL."
What People Are Saying
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill called the escape at the facility, located just 1.5 miles from the French Quarter, "beyond unacceptable" and said local authorities had waited too long to inform the public.
"Someone clearly dropped the ball and there's no excuse for this," Murrill said in an emailed statement to AP. "My office will do whatever it takes to determine how this happened and make sure that it won't happen again."
New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick told local reporters that "it's more than likely" the escaped inmates received assistance and have already changed out of their jail uniforms.
"We don't want panic, but we do want people to be mindful," she told reporters.
Sheriff Susan Hutson described the escape as "very serious and unacceptable."
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson says the department is actively working with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to search for the escaped inmates.
"We are launching a full investigation to determine how this escape occurred, including reviewing facility protocols, staff performance and physical security measures," Hutson said. "Any lapses or failures that contributed to this incident will be addressed swiftly and with full accountability."
What to Know About Orleans Parish Justice Center
The Orleans Parish Justice Center is the main detention facility for New Orleans, located just outside the city's downtown core. Operated by the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, the facility sits at 2800 Perdido Street and serves as the central holding location for pretrial detainees in the parish. It replaced the city's former jail complex after Hurricane Katrina and is designed to meet modern correctional standards with a focus on safety and medical care.
The facility houses approximately 1,000 to 1,200 inmates at any given time, most of whom are awaiting trial or sentencing. Detainees include individuals charged with a wide range of offenses, from minor infractions to serious violent crimes, including murder. The center does not hold long-term state or federal prisoners, but it plays a key role in the local criminal justice system by managing those in pretrial custody or held on short-term sentences.
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Update: 5/16/25, 12:53 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 5/16/25, 12:58 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
Update: 5/16/25, 1:22 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 5/16/25, 2:08 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
Update: 5/16/25, 2:27 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update: 5/16/25, 3:54 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
Update: 5/16/25, 4:25 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
Update: 5/16/25, 4:48 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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