NEW ORLEANS โ In a dramatic twist, a man claiming to be an escapee from a New Orleans jail has posted videos on social media while remaining at large, prompting authorities to conduct a raid that did not result in his capture. Law enforcement officials, confident in the videoโs legitimacy, undertook a search late Monday at a residence located just over two miles from the jail. This location is thought to be where escapee Antoine Massey filmed the videos, as informed by a senior law enforcement source under the condition of anonymity. This source was not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing investigation following the May 16 escape of 10 inmates.
Though Massey was absent from the property on the fringes of the Fairgrounds and Gentilly areas, the authorities did find clothes believed to have been worn by him in the videos. Shedrick Burnell, the property owner, mentioned that the house was leased and chose not to disclose the tenantโs identity. Burnell, speaking by phone, claimed no prior acquaintance with Massey before the breakout and subsequent video appearance, showing little concern that his property served as a hideout for the fugitive. โAt 76, Iโve encountered worse,โ Burnell, a Louisiana native, remarked. โAs long as my tenant is unharmed, thereโs nothing I can do.โ
When visited by a reporter on Tuesday afternoon, the home had no response. Next door, a property under renovation appeared tampered with as its entrance and windows were ajar, likely the result of the police search, according to Tariq Aldahir, an electrician assigned to that adjacent property. โItโs unsettlingโif heโs as notorious a criminal as portrayed, the possibilities are troubling,โ commented Aldahir. โDesperation in a human can lead to limitless actions.โ
Relatives who recognized their residence in the videos, which were uploaded online on Sunday, alerted the authorities. Law enforcement officials are now urgently attempting to locate Massey and another escapee, Derrick Groves, who was convicted of murder. This effort follows over two weeks since the audacious jailbreak, during which eight other fugitives were apprehended.
State Police Superintendent Col. Robert Hodges emphasized that the volatile nature of such investigations often stems from external assistance the escapees might receive, urging the public to continue sharing tips. The authorities have announced a $50,000 reward for each escapee. The Louisiana State Police, leading the search effort, have chosen not to disclose whether Masseyโs identity in the videos has been conclusively verified. These videos, which have since been removed from Instagram, display a man resembling Massey, distinguished by unique facial tattoos, seated near a kitchen.
In one appeal, Massey sought assistance from President Donald Trump and artists like rapper Lil Wayne, imploring for aid once he is recaptured. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson has asked Massey to surrender, conveying in a statement that his cooperation with law enforcement might mitigate additional charges.
Massey, 32, faces serious charges including rape, kidnapping, and domestic violence by strangulation, alongside breaching a protective order, as per authorities from St. Tammany Parish. In Orleans Parish, charges include motor vehicle theft and domestic battery. On video, Massey professed his innocence and alleged he was โlet outโ of jail.
Authorities have arrested a woman tied to Massey in a turbulent relationship, charging her with obstructing justice and assisting in the escape, according to court documents. The woman reportedly knew about Masseyโs jailbreak plans, maintained contact thereafter, and misdirected officials. Gov. Jeff Landry, a staunch Republican, implored the escapees during a Tuesday press briefing to โstop this hide-and-seekโ and surrender.
Surveillance footage and photos from the escape depict inmates forcefully opening a flawed cell door, dismantling a toilet, and crawling through a gap with severed steel bars to traverse a barbed wire fence. A maintenance worker accused of aiding the escapees claimed, through legal representation, to have unknowingly contributed to the escape.