Police raided the home where a man who identifies himself asNew Orleansjail escapee Antoine Masseyfilmed videoshe released on social media while still on the run, but he was not recaptured, according to an Associated Press source.
Authorities were so convinced about the authenticity of the videos that they searched a New Orleans home late Monday where they believe the videos were filmed, according to a senior law enforcement official who spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity. The official said he was not authorized to publicly discuss the ongoing investigation intothe 16 May jail escapeby Massey as well as nine other prisoners.
Massey was not at the home, the official said – but authorities did locate some clothing they believe he wore during the filming of the clips, including one in which he asked for help from famous rappers andDonald Trump.
Authorities had been tipped to the videos, which were posted on Sunday, by relatives who recognized the residence from which Massey was speaking. It was not immediately clear who owned the home.
Authorities say they are investigating the videos as they race to recapture Massey and convicted murderer Derrick Groves more than two weeks after 10 prisoners made an audacious breakout from aNew Orleansjail. Eight of the other escapees have since been recaptured.
Louisiana state police, the agency leading the search for the fugitives, declined to comment on whether it had verified Massey’s identity in the videos. The agency carried out the search related to the videos, which have since been removed from Instagram.
The New Orleans police department said it “cannot confirm the authenticity” of the videos circulating on social media seemingly showing a man with the same facial tattoos as Massey sitting near a kitchen.
“Please, I’m asking for help,” said Massey, who appealed to the US president in one video. But, before mentioning the president in that video, Massey appealed to the New Orleans-born rapper Lil Wayne as well as lyricist NBA YoungBoy, who is from nearby Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
NBA YoungBoy, whose legal name is Kentrell Gaulden, is among a number of celebrities Trump hasrecently pardoned. Gaulden had been sentenced to two years in prison after acknowledging he possessed weapons despite being a felon.
“When I get back in custody I’m asking y’all please to come and help,” Massey said.
The official who runs New Orleans’s jail, local sheriff Susan Hutson, called on Massey 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.”
Massey, 32, faced charges of rape, kidnapping, domestic violence involving strangulation and violation of a protective order all stemming from a November 2024 incident in the suburban New Orleans community of St Tammany parish, Louisiana, say authorities. In New Orleans, where he was incarcerated, he faced charges of motor vehicle theft and domestic battery.
Massey said he is innocent.
A woman police identified as being in a relationship with Massey has suffered multiple alleged instances of physical abuse from him, according to police reports, and had a protective order against him last year, court records show.
This woman has been arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and being a principle to aggravated escape. Authorities said the woman knew of Massey’s escape plans in advance, communicated with him after his escape and misled authorities.
Massey also claimed in the video that he had been “let out” of jail.
Footage and images released by authorities show incarcerated people yanking open a faulty cell door, removing a toilet and crawling through a hole where steel bars had been cut. They then scaled a barbed wire fence using blankets.
A maintenance workercharged with helping the menescape has denied knowingly aiding them via his lawyer.
Guardian staff contributed reporting