Three inmates allegedly broke out of a Louisiana jail through a crumbling wall on Wednesday — and authorities are racing to capture the final escapee, who is a murder suspect.
The fugitive trio — Joseph Allen Harrington, 26, Jonathan Jevon Joseph, 24, and Keith Eli, 24 — escaped St. Landry Paris Jail in Opelousas by prying through a decaying wall over time and lowering themselves to freedom with sheets and other items, according to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Joseph was soon nabbed, while Harrington killed himself after being found hiding inside a home. Eli is still on the run, authorities said.
Keith Eli, 24, is still on the loose after escaping St. Landry Paris Jail with two other inmates on Wednesday. AP
“We would prefer that he surrender himself peaceably,” Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz said of Eli, who is charged with second-degree murder.
Advertisement
“But we will not rest until he is captured.”
Joseph Allen Harrington, 26, killed himself with a rifle on Thursday after police tracked him to a home. APJonathan Jevon Joseph, 24, was recaptured Friday during a brief standoff with police. AP
Officials said Joseph — jailed on rape and other charges — was nabbed Friday after a brief chase. Police tracked a tip to a home, where he ran to nearby storage shed before being cornered and surrendering.
Harrington killed himself with a hunting rifle Thursday after police found him at a home and used a loudspeaker to try to get him to surrender, according to Port Barre Police Chief Deon Boudreaux.
Records show Harrington had been facing nine felony charges, including home invasion.
The inmates escaped from St. Landry Parish Jail, located about 130 miles northwest of New Orleans. Google Maps
Authorities and SWAT continued the manhunt Saturday.
Advertisement
Police warned anyone who spots Eli to stay away and call 911 immediately.
The jailbreak comes six months after 10 inmates escaped a New Orleans prison through a small window hidden by a toilet, leaving behind graffiti mocking authorities, including “To Easy LoL.”
The sheriff’s office said the trio in this latest escape were more cunning than in past prison busts. St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office
Authorities scoured multiple states for the runaways as local officials blamed each other for the breakout.
It took five months to recapture all 10 inmates.
The sheriff’s office said the trio in this latest escape were more cunning than in past prison busts.
Advertisement
Officials said the jailbreakers pried through a degraded wall, gradually removing the mortar between concrete blocks until they could slip out. They then used sheets to scale an exterior wall, drop onto a roof, and lower themselves to the ground.
They used sheets to scale an exterior wall, drop onto a roof, and lower themselves to the ground. St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office
“These three were just a little more creative than in years past,” sheriff spokesperson Major Mark LeBlanc said.
“They’re charged with violent felonies and we know they’re desperate to get away.”
Houma-based Synergy Bank is planning to construct a second Baton Rouge location.
The bank is proposing a roughly 9,200-square-foot branch with a drive-thru on a 1.63-acre tract in the Towne Center Business Park, adjacent to Cadence Bank.
Advertisement
The Planning Commission is scheduled to review the final development plan at its January meeting. Rusty Bourg, Synergy Bank’s chief operating officer, filed the application. The property is owned by Summa Professional Office Park LLC. According to the development plan, the 9,236-square-foot building would sit on 1.07 acres, leaving about a half-acre of open space.
Formed in 1998 by a group of local business leaders in the Houma-Terrebonne area, Synergy entered the Baton Rouge market in 2023 after acquiring People’s Bank and its branches in Baton Rouge, New Roads, Central and Livonia. The bank’s Baton Rouge location is on Mourning Dove Drive near Jefferson Highway.
The bank also operates six branches in the Houma-Thibodaux area and reported assets of roughly $1.2 billion and deposits of $1 billion as of Sept. 30, according to the FDIC.
Video of South Jersey ICE visit goes viral on Facebook
Watch this doorbell camera video from Burlington Township showing masked ICE agents speaking with a homeowner.
On Saturday, Dec. 6, a convenience store manager in Kenner, Louisiana locked out a group of Border Patrol agents, denying them entry to the store.
Wayne Davis, who is assistant manager of the store, was helping a customer when he noticed two unmarked SUVs pull into the parking lot and stop at the front of the store.
Advertisement
After seeing agents wearing border patrol vests exit the two vehicles, Davis locked the door from behind the counter as the agents approached, WWL Louisiana reported.
Video goes viral of Louisiana store manager who locked out Border Patrol agents
The agents kept trying to open the door, looking at Davis through the store window in confusion. This is when Davis began recording, WWL Louisiana reported.
In the video, Davis is seen raising his middle finger to the agents outside before moving from his place behind the counter and standing at the entrance of the store.
From behind the store’s closed door, Davis begins goading the agents lingering outside near the store’s front.
Advertisement
“What do you want man, you want some chicken? You ain’t getting it here… Go somewhere else, you ain’t getting no chicken,” Davis taunts.
After noticing Davis recording on his cellphone from within the store, one of the only agents seen without facial coverings turns his back to the door.
“Dang, you don’t wanna show your face now?… I know you can hear me… Why you not showing your face? You wanted to show your face everywhere else,” Davis provokes while still recording.
Davis told WWL Louisiana that, at this point, he realized the agent was Gregory Bovino, who is commander of Border Patrol and has been in New Orleans as part of Operation Catahoula Crunch.
“Bye, bye,” Davis said facetiously while waving from behind the store’s locked door as agents retreated back into their vehicles.
Advertisement
Davis is seen in the video raising his middle finger once more as the unmarked SUVS drive away and exit the parking lot
Can businesses refuse entry to Border Patrol agents?
Louisiana state law dictates interfering with immigration operations a felony offense, considering interfering actions an obstruction of justice.
However, businesses generally retain the right to refuse service to any person for any reason, unless that person belongs to a protected class, which immigration enforcement agents are not a part of.
Furthermore, if a business denies immigration enforcement agents entry, they cannot forcibly enter unless there is a judicial warrant signed by a judge, according to the ACLU.
Advertisement
Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
DONALDSONVILLE, La. (WAFB) – The film “Sinners,” shot in parts of Louisiana, including Donaldsonville, has received seven nominations for the upcoming Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture Drama, Best Director, and Best Actor.
Michael B. Jordan earned the Best Actor nomination for his dual role in the film, which has dominated the box office since its April release, raking in nearly $370 million worldwide.
Golden Globe snubs and surprises: ‘Wicked,’ Julia Roberts, Sydney Sweeney and more
“Louisiana is known for having this incredible, creative economy. Well, pair that with film and film professionals and you get magic,” said Simonette Berry, a film labor union organizer.
Advertisement
Chris Welcker, a Louisiana native who works as a production sound mixer, has been nominated for the Critics Choice Awards for his work on “Sinners.” Welcker ensures audio and visuals meet production standards.
“I always assumed that I’d have to move somewhere like Los Angeles or New York or you know one of the places that seemed at the time like an obvious choice for getting into this kind of production,” Welcker said.
Berry said Louisiana films have distinctive qualities.
“The films that come out of Louisiana have a certain spark to them,” Berry said.
Welcker attributed the state’s film success to multiple factors.
Advertisement
“I think it’s a combination of the people, the landscape, and we have a lot of rich culture that seeps its way into the stories as well,” Welcker said.
Both Berry and Welcker said the project’s success could benefit Louisiana’s film industry.
“You know it could draw people to being interested in seeing what more we have to offer,” Welcker said.
“There is so much to mine here as far as a creative workforce, and I think you know we’re just getting started,” Berry said.
Currently, “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2” is crushing the box office, achieving the record as the movie with the largest opening ever for the weekend following Thanksgiving.
Advertisement
Click here to report a typo. Please include the headline.
Click here to subscribe to our WAFB 9 News daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.
