Authorities in Louisiana are continuing their search for the last of three inmates who escaped from a prison located about 130 miles northwest of New Orleans. The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office has identified the inmates as Keith Ely, 24, and Jonathan Jevon Joseph, 24, both from Opelousas, along with Joseph Allen Harrington, 26, from Melville. Reports suggest that they managed to climb an exterior wall with the aid of sheets, then fell onto a roof before descending to the ground.
Tragically, Harrington took his own life with a hunting rifle during a standoff with police at a residence in Port Barre, as per information from the Associated Press. He faced significant charges beforehand, including multiple felonies such as burglary and aggravated assault with a firearm, according to the sheriff’s office records.
The next day, police arrested the second fugitive, Joseph, after a brief foot chase. Officials stated that a tip led them to the location where he and his accomplices were hiding. Joseph took off to a nearby warehouse but eventually surrendered. Notably, he has a history of convictions, including charges of first-degree rape along with drug and gun offenses.
This leaves Ely as the final inmate still at large, who is reportedly facing charges of attempted second-degree murder. St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby J. Guidros expressed hope that he would turn himself in peacefully but emphasized the determination to capture him.
This incident echoes a previous escape in May when ten inmates fled a minimum-security facility in New Orleans by removing a toilet from their cell wall and crawling through the opening. Video footage showed the group navigating a fence and using blankets to shield themselves from barbed wire before changing clothes in a nearby neighborhood.
A past case involving a four-time convicted murderer also highlights the seriousness of prison escapes. He was eventually recaptured after five months, following a standoff with law enforcement in Atlanta.
Following the recent escape, three prison staff members have been placed on administrative leave, with an internal investigation underway. The prison’s supervisory personnel are expected to provide a thorough report, Guidros stated.
