Ten people in custody at the New Orleans jail, including a man convicted of four killings, escaped early on Friday morning.
While at least two were apprehended within hours, the escapes prompted local, state and federal officials to launch a “full-scale search operation” for eight who remained at large Friday night – and to warn community members to be on the lookout for “armed and dangerous” individuals.
“Folks, take it seriously,” the New Orleans police superintendent, Anne Kirkpatrick, said at a news conference late on Friday morning. Sheriff Susan Hutson, whose agency operates the jail, said: “We are urging the public to remain alert.”
At first, officials said 11 people had escaped. But during a press conference on Friday afternoon, the New Orleans sheriff clarified that one man, who authorities thought had escaped, was in a different cell.