NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A man identified as a New Orleans jail escapee released videos on social media while still on the run, prompting a police raid that unfortunately did not lead to his recapture, according to an Associated Press source. The escapee, Antoine Massey, was part of a group of 10 inmates who broke out on May 16, 2025, and authorities acted on the belief that the videos were recorded shortly after his escape.

Officials conducted a search at a residence located a little over 2 miles (3.7 kilometers) from the jail, convinced of the authenticity of the videos. A senior law enforcement official, who spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity, indicated that the videos pushed them to investigate the home. Although Massey was not present at the property on the edge of the Fairgrounds and Gentilly neighborhoods, clothing consistent with what he wore in the videos was found.

The home's owner, Shedrick Burnell, stated that the property was being rented and declined to reveal the tenant's identity. Burnell, 76, expressed indifference about the situation, saying, "I’ve seen a helluva lot worse than this. As long as my tenant is safe, there’s nothing I can do.” Meanwhile, the adjacent house under construction showed signs of being disturbed, likely due to the police search.

Tariq Aldahir, an electrician working nearby, voiced concerns about the situation, emphasizing the risk posed by a desperate fugitive. He remarked, “If he is as dangerous a criminal as they say he is, what is he capable of doing?” Authorities became aware of the videos, which were posted online on Sunday, through tips from relatives who recognized the location.

As of now, local law enforcement is fervently working to recapture Massey and another escapee, convicted murderer Derrick Groves. The search comes more than two weeks after the audacious breakout, during which eight other escapees have already been recaptured. Authorities have placed a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of each escapee.

Colonel Robert Hodges of the Louisiana State Police, which is leading the investigation, acknowledged that investigations can pivot quickly, often due to external assistance. He urged the public to continue providing tips. Although the agency has not publicly confirmed Massey’s identity in the videos, a search was carried out based on recordings that depicted a man resembling Massey with facial tattoos, which was later shared on Instagram before being removed.

In the videos, Massey appeals for help from high-profile individuals, including President Donald Trump and rapper Lil Wayne, claiming, “When I get back in custody I’m asking y’all please to come and help.” Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson urged Massey to surrender, emphasizing that cooperating with law enforcement could mitigate potential charges against him.

Massey, aged 32, faces serious charges including rape, kidnapping, domestic violence involving strangulation, and violating a protective order related to incidents from November 2024. Additional charges in Orleans Parish include motor vehicle theft and domestic battery. He has publicly asserted his innocence, also alleging in his videos that he was "let out" of jail. A woman identified by authorities, who was in an on-again, off-again relationship with Massey and has a history of domestic abuse at his hands, was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and as a principal to aggravated escape, suggesting she knew about his plans to escape.

During a press conference, Governor Jeff Landry, a strict advocate for crime control, urged the escapees to stop playing a “hide-and-seek game” and turn themselves in. The notorious escape involved inmates pulling open a faulty cell door, removing a toilet, and crawling through a hole where steel bars had been cut before using blanks to navigate over a barbed wire fence. A maintenance worker involved in the incident has denied knowingly aiding the escapees through his attorney.

___