A Louisiana inmate is on the run Sunday after pepper spraying a deputy during a medical transport and fleeing custody, officials said.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is searching for convicted murderer Leon Ruffin, Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said at a news conference Sunday night. Ruffin is described as a bald black man, approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing 270 pounds.
Current whereabouts are unknown. Ruffin is considered armed and dangerous, and the public is asked to report information regarding his whereabouts to authorities.
He has been in custody since July on multiple charges, including second-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm, and was sentenced to life in prison.
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The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office is searching for convicted murderer Leon Ruffin, who escaped from custody Sunday night. (Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office)
Lopinto said Ruffin was taken from Ochsner Medical Center, 2500 Belle Chasse Highway, to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center around 6:40 p.m. after he was treated for a seizure. The transport was interrupted, confusion ensued, and the accompanying deputy attempted to leave the hospital. vehicle.
When the deputy opened the car door to address the disturbance, Lopinto said Ruffin used pepper spray on her, charged at her and stole the car. The deputy returned fire by firing her gun multiple times at Ruffin, but it is unclear whether any of the shots hit Ruffin.
Lopinto said it’s unclear where Ruffin found the pepper spray because the deputy still had it in his possession.
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It is unclear where Ruffin found the pepper spray he used on the female deputy before fleeing custody. (Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office)
Ruffin fled the scene in a marked Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office vehicle with ID number GO68 and license plate 239626.
The abandoned police vehicle was found in the Algiers neighborhood around 9:20 p.m., but Ruffin was not in the area.
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The sheriff’s office is working with other agencies to search for Ruffin.
This incident is still under investigation.
