The scene of the dramatic jail escape in New Orleans, where inmates escaped through a broken wall.
A mass escape of ten inmates from the Orleans Parish Justice Center has led to an ongoing manhunt in New Orleans. The escape occurred early in the morning when inmates removed fixtures and cut through steel bars. While authorities have recaptured eight inmates, two remain at large. A maintenance worker is facing charges for allegedly aiding the escape. The incident raises concerns about jail management and has prompted plans to reopen a segregation unit to enhance security and supervision.
New Orleans – Ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish Justice Center in New Orleans early on May 16, 2025, prompting an ongoing manhunt for the remaining fugitives. The escape took place at approximately 1 a.m., when inmates successfully removed a toilet and sink from their cell, where the water supply had been intentionally turned off.
Following the dislodgment of the toilet, the inmates cut through steel bars and exited through a rectangular hole in the wall. Upon their exit, they left behind a misspelled message that read, “to easy LOL.” After shedding their prison uniforms, the escapees scaled a wall surrounding the jail and ran across Interstate 10 via the loading dock, attempting to blend in with the surrounding environment.
As of now, authorities have managed to recapture eight of the ten escapees. This includes one individual known as Lenton Vanburen, who is currently being housed at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola. However, two inmates, Derrick Groves and Antoine Massey, remain at large and are actively evading capture.
A maintenance worker employed at the Justice Center has been detained and is facing charges for allegedly assisting the inmates in their escape by shutting off the water supply, which was crucial for their calculated removal of fixtures in their cell.
The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO) is coming under increased scrutiny regarding its management of high-security inmates. Following Sheriff Susan Hutson’s assumption of office in May 2022, the department made the controversial decision to abandon the segregation unit. This move was met with warnings from federal monitors who expressed concerns that the elimination of the segregation practice would heighten the risk of disciplinary violations and jeopardize the management of inmates prone to escape.
The data shows that more than half of the inmates who escaped had previously experienced disciplinary issues and had prior escape attempts from correctional facilities. The average length of stay among these escapees was over one year, with eight of them being held pre-trial at the time of their escape.
In response to the escape, OPSO has announced plans to reopen a segregation unit, which is designed to accommodate 120 beds, targeted for completion by mid-July. This effort aims to enhance supervision of high-risk inmates and mitigate the chances of similar incidents occurring in the future.
In recent developments, OPSO has begun transferring problematic detainees to state prisons rather than managing them within the underwhelming staff capacity of the current jail facility. Reports indicate that the jail is operating under significant understaffing conditions, which poses challenges for inmate management and security.
Community members have been advised to report any information regarding the whereabouts of the two remaining fugitive inmates to Crimestoppers. Authorities are offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to their capture. However, reports indicate that there has been a noticeable decline in community tips since the mass escape, heightening concerns that the fugitives may resort to escalating criminal behavior as their resources continue to diminish.
As the search for Groves and Massey continues, law enforcement agencies remain vigilant and are urging residents to remain cautious and report any suspicious activity related to the escaped inmates.
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