Crime
11 inmates escaped the Orleans Parish prison in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS, LA — The Orleans Parish Justice Center was placed on full lockdown Friday morning after jail officials discovered that 11 inmates had escaped from the facility.
According to the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, the escape was discovered during a routine head count at approximately 8:30 a.m.
Sheriff Susan Hutson confirmed that one of the escapees, Kendell Myles, has since been recaptured by Louisiana State Police, while 10 others remain at large.
A manhunt involving multiple law enforcement agencies is now underway across the region.
Several of the escapees were being held on violent charges, including second-degree murder, and are considered armed and dangerous, according to authorities.
Names and Charges of Escapees:
- Antoine Massey – Charged with domestic abuse by strangulation and vehicle theft
- Lenton VanBuren – Facing charges of illegal carrying of weapons, felon in possession of a firearm, obstruction of justice, and introducing contraband into a prison
- Leo Tate – Charged with simple burglary of a dwelling, felon in possession of a firearm, and illegal carrying of a weapon
- Kendell Myles (RECOVERED) – Charged with attempted concealment of a weapon, introduction of contraband, and possession of contraband
- Derrick Groves – Facing three counts of attempted second-degree murder
- Jermain Donald – Charges not yet disclosed
- Corey Boyd – Charges not yet disclosed
- Gary Price – Charges not yet disclosed
- Robert Moody – Charges not yet disclosed
- Decannon Dennis – Charges not yet disclosed
- Keith Lewis – Charges not yet disclosed
Authorities have not yet disclosed the circumstances of the escape, but an internal investigation is underway to determine how the breach occurred.
All inmates involved were reportedly housed in the same tier of the facility and were awaiting trial for serious offenses.
The Justice Center remains under heightened security, and law enforcement is asking residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the escaped inmates is urged to contact 911 immediately or report tips anonymously to Crimestoppers.
The situation remains fluid, and updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
AUSTIN, Texas — A man was taken into custody Saturday afternoon following a shooting inside the Austin Central Library that left one person seriously injured and prompted a large emergency response and temporary shelter-in-place order in the downtown area.
According to the Austin Police Department (APD), officers responded shortly after 12:00 p.m. to reports of gunfire inside the Austin Central Library, located at 710 W. César Chávez Street.
Upon arrival, police and Austin-Travis County EMS units found one victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
The individual was transported to a local hospital in serious but stable condition.
Assistant Police Chief Lee Rogers stated during a press briefing that the shooter fled the scene before officers arrived.
After an extensive search, the suspect—identified as 55-year-old Harold Newton Keene—was located and arrested in South Austin at approximately 1:25 p.m.
The library was safely evacuated, and the shelter-in-place alert was lifted shortly after Keene’s apprehension.
Authorities emphasized that the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident involving only one suspect and one victim.
“This was not an active shooter situation,” Rogers confirmed.
Preliminary reports and public records reveal that Harold Newton Keene has a lengthy criminal history, including multiple arrests for assault, family violence, terroristic threats, burglary, drug possession, and evading arrest.
He is described by law enforcement officials as a habitual violent offender who has had numerous prior run-ins with police.
Records indicate Keene was previously arrested for threatening a man with a firearm several months ago and, in a separate incident, assaulted another inmate while in custody at the Travis County Jail.
In both cases, prosecutors later declined to pursue charges.
Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the shooting or confirmed whether the suspect and victim knew each other.
The Austin Police Department’s Major Crimes Division is leading the investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is urged to contact the Austin Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 512-472-TIPS.