Two murder suspects, Tyrekennel Collins, and Dezarrious Johnson, have been captured by police just one day after they escaped a Mississippi jail by climbing through the ceiling. The Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department’s Facebook page issued a statement that the two inmates, who were held on murder charges out of Copiah County and Jefferson County, respectively, escaped the Claiborne County Detention Center at 2:20 AM Friday morning.
“These suspects are considered to be dangerous. Authorities urge all citizens to take necessary precautions,” police wrote. They later added, “The safety of the public is our highest priority, and we appreciate the community’s cooperation in this matter.”
The police chief, Deputy Christy Sykes, said Collins and Johnson climbed through a panel in the ceiling, located in a common area of the detention center. The two inmates made it to a window, and then used bed sheets to drop down to the ground. Other inmates notified staff about Collins and Johnson’s breakout. However, the police do not believe the two were armed and didn’t have weapons on them at the time of escape.
In their most recent Facebook update, the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department shared a live video that shows Collins and Johnson being escorted out of an abandoned house in handcuffs and put into a police vehicle. The two prisoners were found in the said abandoned home after the department received calls that the inmates were there. According to Chief Sykes, Collins and Johnson now face additional charges following their escape.
Collins was arrested and charged with murder in Copiah County in October 2023 for allegedly killing his cousin. His partner in crime, Johnson, faces charges of murder and aggravated assault in Jefferson County in 2022 in connection to the murder of one person and injuries to two others, according to the Associated Press.
Chief Sykes revealed to NBC News [1] that this wasn’t the first time inmates escaped through the ceiling panel. She said, “It’s been an issue, and we’re working closely with the board of supervisors to get this taken care of as soon as possible.”
The Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department later issued a “message of gratitude” on Facebook following the capture of Collins and Johnson from the community. “We extend our heartfelt thanks to the citizens of Claiborne County for your unwavering support and trust in our department. We are also deeply grateful to the incredible agencies that assisted us in the recent manhunt.”