NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Authorities announced on Thursday that they are looking into another social media post. This is the second in a week featuring a man who identifies himself as Antoine Massey. He escaped from a New Orleans prison more than two weeks ago.
The latest Instagram post, seemingly released on Wednesday, shows a man in front of a blue car claiming to be “#antoinemassey” and sporting the same distinctive facial tattoo.
Authorities are uncertain of when or where the images of Massey were captured. However, they “are treating the post as if it’s genuine,” according to a law enforcement official who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to their role in the ongoing investigation into the escape of 10 prisoners.
The group utilized blankets to scale barbed wire fences for safety after forcibly opening the doors of damaged cells and crawling through holes in the wall behind the toilet where steel bars had been cut. This jailbreak is one of the largest in recent U.S. history.
State and local leaders have faced criticism regarding Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson’s management. The infrastructure is inadequate and there have been failures to implement necessary improvements at a $150 million facility over the past decade.
Eight of the men who escaped have been apprehended, but Derrick Groves, who was convicted of murder alongside Massey, remains at large.
In an Instagram post, someone claiming to be Massey asserted his “innocence.” Massey, 32, is facing charges including household battery, assault, rape, strangulation, and auto theft.
“We urge Mr. Massey to surrender and go through the appropriate legal processes for his day in court,” said U.S. Brian Fair in an email. He noted that it is “currently unknown” when or if Massey posted the photo.
Earlier this week, other videos featuring Massey surfaced on social media, prompting authorities to raid a home in New Orleans located just over two miles (3 kilometers) from the prison, as they believed the video was created there. However, they only found some of the clothing believed to have been worn in the video.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry urged both Massey and Groves on Tuesday to “stop the evasion” and turn themselves in.
Source: apnews.com