News Summary
Jermaine Donald and Leo Tate, two of the escapees from the Orleans Justice Center, have been recaptured in Texas after a high-speed chase following their escape on May 16. Both individuals faced charges including escape and resisting arrest. Meanwhile, two other escapees are still at large, and authorities are actively searching for them, offering a reward for information. The escape involved a coordinated effort, raising questions about jail security and management. An ongoing investigation may lead to arrests of jail staff who potentially assisted the escapees.
New Orleans – Two escapees from the Orleans Justice Center were recaptured in Texas following a high-speed chase. Jermaine Donald and Leo Tate, who fled on May 16, 2025, along with eight other inmates, were apprehended in Walker County. Both individuals have appeared in a Texas courtroom where they faced charges of escape and resisting arrest.
Donald, who is awaiting trial on serious charges including illegal carrying of a weapon and second-degree murder, and Tate, charged with obstruction of justice, were caught following a tip-off and a short-lived pursuit by law enforcement. Body cam footage captured the dramatic moments leading to their capture, where officers utilized their weapons to ensure the duo did not evade justice again.
Despite the recapture of Donald and Tate, Derrick Groves and Antoine Massey are still at large. Authorities are actively searching for the remaining escapees, with a reward of $50,000 offered for information leading to their capture. Law enforcement has received more than 700 tips since the jailbreak, which included details about Massey being spotted in Natchez, Mississippi.
The escape of the inmates from the Orleans Justice Center was described as a coordinated effort. Reports suggest that they removed a toilet, cut through steel bars, and crawled through a hole in the jail to make their way out. Prior to their escape, they allegedly left messages on the facility walls taunting prison staff. An investigation into the escape is ongoing, with questions being raised about the management and security protocols at the facility. Potential arrests of jail staff who may have assisted in the escape are anticipated as investigators continue to piece together the events leading up to May 16.
Massey, known for a history of escapes, first fled juvenile detention in 2007 and previously broke out of the Morehouse Detention Center in 2019. It is believed he played a significant role in orchestrating the recent jailbreak by threatening jail staff. Groves, who is awaiting a life sentence for murder, has a violent past and has been linked to two double homicides in 2018. As a result, he is considered a high-profile fugitive, with law enforcement treating the search for him with urgency.
In connection with the jailbreak, Vi Duc Nguyen was arrested for allegedly paying for a hotel stay where another escapee, Lenton VanBuren, was hiding. Nguyen, alongside accomplice James “Scooter” Randolph, faces charges for being an accessory after the fact in the escape case.
In total, eight out of the ten original escapees have been recaptured, with three being apprehended on Memorial Day alone. The authorities’ response to the situation has faced criticism, as the New Orleans Police Superintendent was reportedly not informed of the escape until it was reported by the media. Meanwhile, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office is spearheading the investigation into the jailbreak to ensure accountability and prevent future incidents.
As the search for Groves and Massey continues, law enforcement believes that the two may be working with accomplices to evade capture. The situation remains fluid, and updates from authorities are expected as efforts continue to bring the remaining fugitives to justice.
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Additional Resources
- ABC News: New Orleans Jailbreak
- Wikipedia: New Orleans
- WWL-TV: New Orleans Jail Escape
- Google Search: New Orleans Jail Escape
- CBS News: Manhunt for Escapees
- Google Scholar: New Orleans Jail Escape
- WDSU: Spending on Manhunt
- Encyclopedia Britannica: New Orleans
- NOLA.com: Antoine Massey
- Google News: New Orleans Jail Escape
