On Wednesday, three inmates reportedly escaped a Louisiana prison by breaking through a collapsed wall. Authorities are now urgently pursuing one of the escapees, a suspect in a murder case.
The escapees—Joseph Allen Harrington, 26, Jonathan Jevon Joseph, 24, and Keith Ely, 24—managed to get out of the St. Landry Parish Jail in Opelousas after prying open decaying walls and using bedsheets to lower themselves to freedom, as detailed by the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Joseph was caught shortly afterwards, while Harrington, who was later found at a house, tragically took his own life. Authorities are still searching for Ely.
“We hope he chooses to turn himself in peacefully,” Sheriff Bobby J. Guidros mentioned regarding Ely, who has been charged with second-degree murder. “But we will not rest until he is captured.”
Joseph, who faced charges including rape, was captured in a short foot chase on Friday. Police tracked him to a residence, but he attempted to escape into a nearby storage shed, where he ultimately surrendered.
Police Chief Deon Boudreau described the tense moments when they found Harrington in his home. They even used a bullhorn to urge him to surrender, but he sadly shot himself with a rifle instead.
Harrington had a criminal record with nine felony charges, including burglary.
The search for Ely and the others has continued, with law enforcement actively scouring multiple states for the fugitives. Police are advising anyone who spots Ely not to approach him but to call 911 immediately.
This escape incident follows another escape six months prior, when ten inmates broke out of a New Orleans facility through a small bathroom window, leaving graffiti that poked fun at the authorities.
It was noted that the methods the three men used this time were particularly clever compared to past escapes. Authorities explained they pried open deteriorating walls and managed to remove mortar between blocks, finally reaching the outside. Using sheets, they scaled the outer wall, fell onto the roof, and made their way to the ground.
“These three guys demonstrated a bit more creativity than escapees in previous years,” remarked Maj. Mark LeBlanc, a sheriff’s spokesperson. “They are charged with violent felonies, and we know they’re trying very hard to get away.”
The investigation into this jailbreak will be conducted internally.
