North Carolina sheriffs issued a new warning Wednesday as the manhunt for fugitive convicted murderer Ramone Jamar Alston, aka the “Christmas Day Killer,” entered its second day.
Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said he grew up with the fugitive’s father and has known him for a long time.
“He was a troubled child and was involved in criminal activity from a young age,” he said. He told reporters “He’s being extremely cautious. He’s being extremely dangerous. And he has nothing to lose,” he said during a Wednesday morning briefing streamed on Facebook.
North Carolina sheriff launches manhunt for convicted murderer who escaped on way to hospital
Ramon “Jamar” Alston was last seen wearing a gray T-shirt, brown pants, white New Balance shoes, and had handcuffs attached to a chain around his abdomen with a black box attached to the handcuffs. (Orange County Sheriff’s Office)
Authorities said Alston fled from security guards on his way to the University of North Carolina Hillsborough Hospital around 7 a.m. Tuesday.
He was serving a life sentence for the murder of one-year-old Maleah Williams on Christmas Day in 2015.
Authorities are offering a $35,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect and are urging anyone with security cameras in the area to search for potential evidence.
After fleeing, the suspect may have headed north, but Blackwood said police have “no specific leads” on his whereabouts.
“He had dreadlocks when he fled,” the sheriff said. “It’s possible he had a haircut, but we don’t know for sure.”
Ramon Jamar Alston, 30, was being transferred from Bertie Correctional Facility to the University of North Carolina at Hillsboro’s gastroenterology department for treatment when he escaped from custody of North Carolina Department of Corrections officers. (Orange County Sheriff’s Office)
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Alston has a large tattoo of the word “Flame” with a star in the middle on his chest, and the word “niece” on his right arm.
At the time of his escape, Alston was wearing a gray T-shirt, brown pants, and white New Balance sneakers. He managed to escape from his ankle restraints, but still had handcuffs attached to a chain around his waist.
He was last seen running into woods near the hospital.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina is offering a $35,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Ramone Jamar Alston. (Orange County Sheriff’s Office)
Authorities say he escaped while corrections officers’ firearms were kept in a secure box inside the transport vehicle.
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Authorities are expected to provide a new update on the investigation by 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Alston was one of two gunmen driving the car in a 2015 drive-by shooting in Chapel Hill. News & ObserverThey opened fire on the apartment complex, hitting Maleah in the back of the head with one bullet as she was being held by her mother.
Fox News’ Sarah Lampe Whitten contributed to this report.
