Authorities are looking into whether one of the two inmates still on the run following last month’s New Orleans jail escape released a social media video claiming the escape was not his idea.
Officials said that on May 16, ten detainees escaped from the Orleans Parish jail through a hole in the wall made by a ripped-away toilet and sink unit. Police have already apprehended eight of the males, leaving Antoine Massey, 32, and Derrick Groves, 27, at large.
According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune and local station WVUE, an Instagram video released on Sunday, June 1, looks to be by Massey. In the video, a man identified as Massey denied being the mastermind behind the jail break. NOLA.com, the Times-Picayune’s website, quoted a deputy U.S. marshal and another source as confirming that officials were investigating the video.
“I’m one of the ones that was let out of Orleans Parish jail, where they said I escaped, right?” he stated, speaking directly to the camera while sporting the same facial tattoos as Massey. “They say I broke out.” I did not break out. “I was let out.”
The man in the video also asserted his innocence and stated that he escaped the Orleans Parish jail to avoid being prosecuted with a crime he did not commit, according to NOLA.com.
“The reason why I left the jail is because these people were trying to give me a life sentence in both parishes for something that I did not do,” the man can be heard saying.
The post, which is no longer available as of Monday, June 2, was shared by an account called “@_007chucky” that can no longer be found, according to WVUE.
USA TODAY has contacted officials from the United States Marshals Service, the FBI, and the New Orleans Police Department for comment.
Man disputes statements from the arrested jail maintenance worker.
According to NOLA.com, the individual in the video also told viewers not to believe Sterling Williams, a jail maintenance worker, 33. According to Williams’ arrest affidavit, one of the inmates threatened him with a “shank,” a makeshift knife.
WVUE reported that the man stated in the video that he never attempted to “shank” Williams.
Williams was detained in connection with the jail breakout and is accused of communicating with the escapees, along with numerous other individuals. He is accused of being a principal in simple escape and malfeasance in office.
According to Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, Williams allegedly acknowledged to turning off the water in a cell after one of the inmates requested it, allowing them to escape via a ripped-out toilet and sink unit.
Michael Kennedy, Sterling Williams’ lawyer, told USA TODAY last week that his client was unaware of the escape plot and had turned off the water due to a blocked toilet.
Why was Massey in jail?
Massey has been charged with domestic abuse involving strangling. He is also accused with theft of a motor vehicle, according to Orleans Parish records.
A warrant for his arrest in St. Tammany Parish shows he is wanted for second-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping, domestic abuse involving strangulation, and violating a protective order involving battery in connection with a November incident, according to a parish sheriff’s office spokesperson.
He is wanted with Groves, who was convicted in October of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder in connection with a 2018 Mardi Gras shooting.
Three of the escaped inmates were apprehended before the end of May 16, the same day of their breakout. One week later, two more were discovered. Within two weeks, officials had apprehended everyone except Groves and Massey. Authorities are offering a $50,000 reward to anyone who gives information leading to the arrest of either of them.
