Manhunt underway in Mississippi for 2 escaped inmates awaiting murder trials

A manhunt was underway in Mississippi on Saturday after two inmates, both of them being held on murder charges, busted out of jail, police said.

Tyrekennel Collins, 24, and Dezarrious Johnson, 18, fled from the Claiborne County Detention Center on Friday around 2:20 a.m., the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department said in a social media post.

The pair were caught on camera climbing through a panel in the ceiling in a common area of the jail, police told WAPT-TV. From there, they made their way to a window and used bed sheets to drop down to the ground, then snuck behind a wall outside.

At some point during the escape, Johnson hurt his leg, leaving him with a bad limp, according to the police press release.

At least one of them was spotted Friday afternoon on China Grove Road, but had not been apprehended as of Saturday morning.

“We want to make sure that the community here feels safe, and we’re trying to get them back in before they cause any other harm,” Sheriff Edward Goods said.

Collins is facing a murder charge for the October killing of his cousin in Copiah County, which is about 40 miles west of Claiborne County. Johnson meanwhile is charged with murder and aggravated assault in Jefferson County, just south of Claiborne County.

Johnson’s trial is set to begin Oct. 15.

Both men should be considered armed and dangerous and police have encouraged residents to take additional safety precautions until they are recaptured. Anyone with information on their whereabouts have been asked to contact the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department.

With News Wire Services