Authorities in Louisiana have successfully recaptured three inmates out of ten who escaped from a New Orleans jail early Friday morning through a hole in a wall behind a toilet. The escape prompted investigations into security flaws and potential inside help. The inmates, some charged with serious crimes including murder, made a remarkable escape by pulling a ‘defective’ cell door off its tracks and ripping away a toilet and sink unit from a wall. Security footage captured the inmates leaving via a loading dock, scaling a wall, and running across a highway. The government officials stated that there are indications of inside assistance, as surveillance footage was not reported promptly by jail staff. Rewards totaling up to $7,000 are being offered for information leading to the arrest of the remaining seven fugitives. The escape was discovered during a routine headcount eight hours after the inmates’ departure. Authority figures revealed that the inmates managed to change out of their jail uniforms and run away, with some taunting law enforcement through messages scrawled on the wall of their cell. The inmates’ ages range from 19 to 42, with many having violent criminal histories. The Louisiana State Police used air support and SWAT teams to transport the recaptured inmates to a secure facility outside New Orleans, with one inmate exhibiting hostile behavior requiring the use of a spit hood. The search for the remaining escapees continues, and officials urge anyone with information to contact Crimestoppers, the FBI, or call 911.
