Louisiana police searching for 2 escaped prisoners after 4 slipped through fence
Louisiana police are searching for two inmates who escaped through a jail fence during recreation time, according to a news release on Sunday.
Four inmates initially escaped from the Tangipahoa Parish Jail in Amite City, about 1.5 hours north of New Orleans, as reported by the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office.
During a Monday news conference, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Jimmy Travis stated that authorities were alerted about the missing inmates by a member of the public. Travis expressed concern over learning about the escape from a civilian, attributing it to inadequate supervision, short staffing, and numerous infrastructure problems.
Two of the escapees were found by Monday morning hiding in a garbage bin behind a Dollar General Store after escaping on Saturday, Travis said.
Inmates at Large Jailed on Homicide and Armed Robbery Charges
Travis mentioned that the narcotics and detective divisions are working to gather information on the whereabouts of the two remaining at-large inmates. Authorities believe these two individuals may have left Tangipahoa Parish.
The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office identified the escapees as:
- Omarion Hookfin, 19
- Avery Guidry, 19
- Jamarcus Cyprian, 20
- Travon Johnson, 21
According to police, Cyprian was jailed on robbery and weapon charges, while the other three were incarcerated for charges related to a 2022 home invasion during which a 12-year-old girl was shot multiple times and her father was killed, as reported by local outlet WWL Louisiana.
Hookfin and Cyprian have yet to be found, according to the latest updates. Police are urging locals with any information to contact them.
Public Notification of Escape
Travis noted that a member of the public contacted the sheriff’s office to report that two inmates had sought shelter at a relative’s house overnight between Saturday and Sunday.
Guidry and Johnson were the first to escape, followed by Hookfin and Cyprian. Travis stated that Hookfin and Cyprian, aware of the escape route used by the first two, made their move shortly before officials discovered the initial escape.
Travis explained that the escape involved multiple steps and exploited weaknesses in the system. The escapees broke through eroded fencing, hid between the fence and the next wall until dark, slid under an 8-inch gap in the wall, and scaled two razor-wire fences.
