Reports from New Orleans indicate that one of the two remaining fugitives from last month’s jailbreak has been apprehended after being on the run for six weeks.
Antoine Massey, age 33, was taken into custody on Friday evening at a residence in New Orleans’ Third District. According to Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, Massey surrendered peacefully to law enforcement officers who had surrounded the house. The arrest followed a tip received by Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson from a member of the public.
Colonel Robert Hodges, Superintendent of the Louisiana State Police, reports that the location where Massey was found was an Airbnb property. Authorities are now investigating potential accomplices who may have assisted the fugitive during his time at large.
Massey was one of ten inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center in mid-May. At the time of his escape, he was incarcerated on charges including domestic abuse battery involving strangulation, theft of a motor vehicle, and a parole violation. State police indicate that additional charges may be forthcoming.
This capture leaves only one escapee, Derrick Groves, still at large. Groves was convicted last year on two counts of second-degree murder related to a 2018 Mardi Gras Day shooting. He faces a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Law enforcement officials have renewed their appeal for Groves to turn himself in peacefully.
This has led to the arrest of over a dozen individuals suspected of aiding the escapees, including a jail inmate and a maintenance worker. Sheriff Hutson reports that measures are being taken to enhance security at the facility, including the installation of new razor wire and upgrades to locking mechanisms.
As this story continues to unfold, questions remain about the full extent of outside assistance received by the escapees and the effectiveness of current jail security measures. The public’s right to information on these matters remains paramount.