Antoine Massey is captured in New Orleans Friday, June 27. Credit: Louisiana State Police
And then, there was one.
One of the two remaining New Orleans jail escapees has been captured.
Detectives from several agencies caught Antoine Massey, 33, Friday afternoon after an anonymous tip that came in that morning led them to a home being used as an Airbnb rental in the Hollygrove area of New Orleans.
“This is a major step forward in our efforts to restore order and accountability after this serious incident,” Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said during a news conference Friday evening.
Massey was being held on charges of domestic abuse battery involving strangulation, theft of a motor vehicle and a parole violation.
He, along with nine others, escaped the Orleans Parish Jail during the early morning hours of May 16th.
State Police Superintendent Col. Robert Hodges says capturing Massey was a total team effort involving several agencies.
“It’s through our resilience and, more importantly, our collaboration (which) is why we were able to bring Mr. Massey into custody,” said Col. Hodges.
During his time on the run, Massey released a video on social media, in which he proclaimed his innocence.
Hodges said Massey had help during his time on the run.
“It’s pretty obvious over the last six weeks to remain a fugitive that long, he had assistance,” Hodges said. “Whether or not it was someone (who) helped him with the Airbnb, we would have to think yes.”
Like the eight escapees who were captured prior to him, Massey was processed and transported to the State Prison in Angola.
With his capture, that leaves convicted murderer Derrick Groves, 27, as the lone remaining escapee still on the run.
“We are going to capture you,” warned New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick. “You will be taken into custody, but you still have the option to peacefully turn yourself in.”
So far, all captures have been peaceful; no one has been hurt.
A total of $50,000 in reward money is being offered for information leading to his capture.
“It’s a combination through Crime Stoppers, through ATF and FBI,” says Hodges. “And certainly if they reach out to one of those hot lines, those tip lines, they are eligible for that reward.”
Hodges says the reward money is a much better alternative than helping Groves continue to evade capture.
“When you help and aid and assist those to remain at large as a risk to the community, you will be charged accordingly.”
Meanwhile, Sheriff Hutson says work is ongoing to harden and modernize the jail so that something like this does not happen again.
“We’re installing new razor wire, tightening physical barriers, upgrading locking mechanisms,” Hutson says. “These all play an important role in the safety of our residents, staff, and the entire community.”
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