ecurity footage captured the moment ten dangerous inmates escaped from a New Orleans jail in the middle of the night. Three have been recaptured, while seven others remain on the run.

On May 16, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed that ten inmates, described as “armed and dangerous,” broke out of the Orleans Parish Prison around 1 a.m. local time. Three were quickly caught, while the remaining seven are still being hunted across New Orleans.

Authorities initially reported that eleven prisoners had escaped but later corrected the number after discovering a misidentification. Investigators suspect that jail staff or deputies may have helped with the breakout.

“We have to admit — no one escapes without a failure in our security system,”
said Sheriff Susan Hutson.

According to reports, at 12:23 a.m., the inmates dismantled their cell door by removing the sliding bar. Around 1:01 a.m., they broke through a wall behind the toilet — considered a weak security point — and climbed out. Using hygiene tools to unscrew the toilet bolts, the group crawled through the hole, scaled the wall, and crossed the nearby interstate.

Surveillance footage shows the inmates running out of the facility and disappearing into the night. Some left mocking graffiti behind, including one message, misspelled but taunting:
“To easy, LOL.” (Too easy.)

The escape wasn’t discovered until the routine headcount at 8:30 a.m. When asked about the delay, Sheriff Hutson said the inmates might have been hiding inside the facility, and the first priority was ensuring the safety of victims involved in their cases.

By the end of May 16, three fugitives had been captured:

Kendell Myles, identified through facial recognition, found hiding under a car in a hotel parking lot.

Robert Moody, caught later that day.

Dkenan Dennis, arrested that evening.

The Orleans Parish Prison has been placed on lockdown for investigation. The seven remaining escapees are believed to still be hiding somewhere in New Orleans.

Multiple agencies — including the New Orleans Police, FBI, Louisiana State Police, and U.S. Marshals — have joined the manhunt. Officers are also contacting victims related to the fugitives’ cases, many of whom were charged or convicted of murder and violent crimes.

One of the escapees is Derrick Groves, who was convicted of murder in a 2018 Mardi Gras shooting.

Officials have warned residents not to help or hide the fugitives, stressing that doing so could lead to criminal charges.

Sheriff Hutson also criticized city officials for failing to fund long-requested security upgrades, saying the jail’s locking system alone would cost $5.2 million to replace.