It’s been nearly three weeks since 10 men escaped from a New Orleans jail through a ripped toilet and alleged assistance from inside and outside the facility. Two men remain on the run, including Antoine Massey. In the latest update from the Associated Press, a police raid failed to locate Massey on June 3. The raid occurred after videos of a man claiming to be Massey recently went viral. In the clip, published on Sunday (June 1), the alleged on-the-run inmate defended his innocence.
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Man Claiming To Be Antoine Massey Pleads His Case On Camera
AP reports that Antoine Massey’s relatives tipped authorities about the location seen in the viral videos. At this time, it’s not immediately clear who owns the home in question. However, the man with a similar face tattoo to Massey filmed his POV sitting in a kitchen-like area.
“Please, I’m asking for help,” said the man claiming to be Massey. In one video, he appealed to President Donald Trump and several rappers, including Lil Wayne, Meek Mill and NBA YoungBoy. “When I get back in custody, I’m asking y’all please to come and help.”
In the viral videos, the man believed to be Massey claimed to be innocent and said he was “let out” of jail. He also displayed printed affidavits concerning his arrests at OJC and St. Tammany Parish jails. The man added, “Who I was in the past is not who I am today,” and denied allegations of threatening a maintenance worker. He also called the jail system “corrupted.”
For context, since the escape, authorities released footage and images showing inmates yanking open a faulty cell door, removing a toilet, and crawling through a hole in cut steel bars. Then, they scaled a barbed wire fence using blankets. A maintenance worker faces charges related to escape aid, but he has denied knowingly doing so.
Swipe below to see what the man resembling Antoine Massey said. The videos have since been removed from Instagram.
St. Tammany Parish authorities said the 32-year-old previously faced charges of rape, kidnapping, domestic violence involving strangulation and violation of a protective order. All of those charges stem from a November 2024 incident.
Meanwhile, Antoine Massey was in New Orleans Parish, the jail he escaped from, for charges of motor vehicle theft and domestic battery. Police reports show that a woman known as Massey’s girlfriend has suffered multiple alleged instances of physical abuse from him. Additionally, court records show she was granted a protective order against him in 2024.
In the last two weeks, police arrested this same woman, charging her with obstruction and being a key participant in an aggravated escape. Authorities said the woman knew of Massey’s escape plans in advance. Also, she allegedly communicated with him after his escape and misled authorities.
Law Enforcement Agencies Release Statements Amid Viral Videos
Law enforcement immediately launched an investigation into the viral videos after receiving tips. Efforts to locate Antoine Massey and convicted murderer Derrick Groves have surpassed two weeks. As mentioned, eight of the other escapees have since been recaptured. Their names are: Jermaine Donald, Leo Tate, Lenton Vanburen, Gary Price, Corey Boyd, Dkenan Dennis, Robert Moody, and Kendell Myles. Additionally, relatives and loved ones, including an inmate’s grandmother, have been arrested.
Louisiana State Police is the agency leading the search for the fugitives. It declined to comment on whether it had verified Massey’s identity in the videos.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Police Department said it “cannot confirm the authenticity” of the now-deleted videos circulating on social media. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson sent a message to Massey, asking him to “come forward and turn himself in.”
“Cooperating with law enforcement is in his best interest and may help avoid additional charges,” Hutson said in an emailed statement. “It is important that justice is served appropriately and that due process is followed.”
More Details About Police Raid Amid Viral Video
According to the AP, law enforcement was privately convinced that Antoine Massey’s viral videos were authentic. As a result, the Louisiana State Police led the search of a New Orleans home late Monday, where they believe the escapee filmed the videos. A senior law enforcement official spoke to The AP on the condition of anonymity. The official is reportedly not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation into the jail escape publicly.
According to the source, Antoine Massey was not in the raided home. However, authorities reportedly found clothing they believe the escapee wore during the filming. The hunt continues, and law enforcement is offering a $50,000 reward for tips leading to the arrests of Antoine Massey and Derrick Groves.
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Associated Press Staff Jim Mustian and Jack Brook from Report for America contributed to this article via AP Newsroom.
