Two “dangerous” inmates being held on murder charges escaped from a Mississippi jail early Friday morning sparking a manhunt.
Tyrekennel Collins, 24, and Dezarrious Johnson, 18, broke free from the Claiborne County Detention Center around 2:20 a.m., the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.
Chief Deputy Christy Sykes said Collins and Johnson climbed through a panel in the ceiling in a common area of the jail. They made their way to a window and used bed sheets to drop down to the ground, she said. Jail staff were alerted to the escape immediately by other inmates.
Johnson injured his leg during the escape and has a bad limp, authorities said.
Sykes said Collins and Johnson did not exit the facility with any weapons and authorities do not believe they are armed, but cautioned that they should be considered dangerous.
The sheriff’s office said residents should “take necessary precautions.”
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation said the two men should not be approached and anyone who sees them should call 911 or the sheriff’s office.
Collins was being held for charges out of Copiah County, the sheriff’s office said. According to NBC affiliate WLBT of Jackson Collins was arrested in 2023 in connection with the killing of his 46-year-old cousin.
Johnson was being held for charges out of Jefferson County.
The search for Collins and Johnson continues and U.S. Marshals have been in contact with their families, according to Sykes. Both face additional charges upon their capture.
Sykes said this isn’t the first time inmates at the facility were able to escape through a panel in the ceiling.
