Antoine Massey claims innocence after escaping from New Orleans jail

In the United States, Antoine Massey escaped from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans on May 16, 2025. He was one of ten inmates who managed to break out by exploiting faulty locks, using stolen bedding, and circumventing a distracted jail employee. Following his escape, Massey appeared in a video on social media where he claimed that he did not break out but was 'let out,' and he sought aid from celebrities like Lil Wayne and President Donald Trump to assert his innocence. Within two weeks, authorities began searching for him, prompted by these social media videos which they believed were made in a specific New Orleans home. While they did not locate Massey, they found clothing thought to belong to him, suggesting he had been staying there. Despite the rigorous search efforts, including raids at potential hideouts, Massey remained on the run alongside another escapee, Derrick Groves, while eight others were recaptured. Authorities have offered rewards for information leading to their capture, emphasizing the seriousness of the escape and the perceived danger posed by the fugitives due to their criminal histories, which include violent offenses. The escape raised significant concerns over jail oversight and management, leading to public criticism of the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, which faced scrutiny for the infrastructural deficiencies that allowed such a large-scale jailbreak to occur. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry publicly urged Massey and Groves to turn themselves in, reinforcing the message that cooperation with law enforcement could be in their best interests.