Two inmates charged with murder escape from Mississippi jail from ceiling, reports state

Two inmates charged with murder have escaped a Mississippi penitentiary, police said.

Around 2:20 a.m. on July 5, Tyrekennel Collins, 24, and Dezarrious Johnson, 18, escaped from the Claiborne County Detention Center, the Claiborne County Sheriff Department said in a Facebook post.

The police issued an alert stating that the suspects are considered dangerous. If anyone in the public sees Collins or Johnson, authorities warn that they should take precautions.

Surveillance footage shows Collins and Johnson escaping through the ceiling, WJTV reported .

Collins is described as a black man who was being held for Copiah County, police said.

Johnson, a Natchez area resident about 73 miles north of McComb, is a male who was being held for Jefferson County, police said.

Police said that Johnson has a bad limp on his right leg that he sustained during the escape.

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Two escapees both are charged with murder

The Claiborne County Sheriff Department told USA TODAY that the escapees were being held on murder charges.

Tyrekennel Collins was arrested for allegedly shooting and killing his male cousin, according to a WJTV report .

The shooting occurred in Georgetown, about 39 miles south of Jackson, around 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 17, 2023.

When Copiah County deputies arrived at the scene, they discovered the body of 46-year-old James Collins. Collins was arrested shortly after, the news station reported.

Dezarrious Johnson is charged with murder and aggravated assault, according to CBS News . Court records obtained by the broadcast station said that he was indicted in the October 2022 killing of one person and injuries to two others. His trial is set to begin Oct. 15.

Anyone with information regarding Collins and Johnson's whereabouts is urged to contact the Claiborne County Sheriff Department at (601) 437-5161.

Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com . Follow her on Instagram , Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Two inmates charged with murder escape from Mississippi jail from ceiling, reports state