Crime
Cortnie Harris and Corvanntay Baptiste Arrested for Aiding Escaped Inmates from Orleans Justice Center
New Orleans, LA – Authorities have arrested two individuals accused of aiding fugitives following the May 16, 2025, escape of ten inmates from the Orleans Justice Center.
As of now, five inmates have been recaptured while the search for the remaining five continues.
Following an intensive multi-agency investigation, Louisiana State Police (LSP) identified 32-year-old Cortnie Harris of New Orleans and 38-year-old Corvanntay Baptiste of Slidell as having provided assistance to the escapees.
According to investigators:
- Cortnie Harris was in direct phone communication with one of the escapees who remains at large. She is also accused of transporting two fugitives—still unaccounted for—to multiple locations within New Orleans in the days following the jailbreak.
- Corvanntay Baptiste allegedly maintained communication with captured escapee Corey Boyd through phone calls and social media. Authorities say Baptiste assisted Boyd by delivering food while Boyd was hiding at a residence.
Both Harris and Baptiste were arrested and charged with one felony count each under LRS 14:25 – Accessory After the Fact.
They have been booked into the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center.
Under Louisiana law, individuals convicted of being accessories after the fact may face up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $500, or both, with or without hard labor.
Law enforcement officials from local, state, and federal agencies continue to pursue all leads to locate the remaining fugitives.
Authorities are issuing a firm warning that anyone found harboring or aiding these escapees will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Officials emphasize that assisting fugitives endangers public safety and will not be tolerated.
Anyone with information regarding the fugitives or the ongoing investigation is urged to contact law enforcement through one of the following channels:
- LSP.org – Report Suspicious Activity
- LSP Fusion Center Hotline
- Crime Stoppers Greater New Orleans
- FBI Tip Hotline
A total reward of up to $20,000 per fugitive is being offered for information leading to their arrest:
- Crime Stoppers GNO: $5,000
- ATF: $5,000
- FBI: $10,000
Crime
Victims Identified in Deadly Robeson County Mass Shooting
Two Dead, 13 Injured in Mass Shooting at Large Party in Robeson County, North Carolina
ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. — A late-night party in eastern North Carolina turned deadly early Saturday morning when gunfire erupted, leaving two people dead and 13 others injured, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Burnis Wilkins confirmed that deputies were called to the scene on Dixon Drive, just outside the town of Maxton, at approximately 3:00 a.m. following reports of a shooting at a large outdoor gathering attended by more than 150 people.
When deputies arrived, chaos had already unfolded — witnesses said over 150 individuals fled the area before law enforcement could secure the scene.
Authorities identified the deceased victims as Jessie Locklear and his son Nehemiah Locklear.
Several other victims sustained critical injuries and were transported to area hospitals for emergency treatment.
Sheriff Wilkins stated that, based on preliminary findings, the shooting appears to have been an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the wider community.
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from multiple agencies, continues to investigate the circumstances that led to the violence.
Detectives are working to determine the motive and identify all parties involved.
Authorities are urging anyone with information—or anyone who attended the gathering and witnessed the incident—to contact the Robeson County Sheriff’s Investigators at 910-671-3100.
“We know there were many people present when this occurred,” Sheriff Wilkins said. “If you saw something or know something, we need you to come forward to help bring justice to the victims and their families.”