2 murder suspects escape through ceiling of prison in Miss.: Police

Police in Mississippi are searching for two murder suspects who escaped from a local jail early Friday morning, July 5.

In a breaking news story shared on Facebook, the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Department announced that Tyrekennel Collins, 24, and Dezarrious Johnson, 18, escaped from the Claiborne County Detention Center at around 2:20 a.m. local time.

Collins is described as a black man “held for Copiah County.” Johnson, a black man from Natchez, “was held for Jefferson County.”

The Sheriff’s Department later determined that Johnson was “severely limping” after his right leg was injured “during the escape.”

“These suspects are considered dangerous. Authorities urge all citizens to take the necessary precautions,” police said. “The safety of the public is our highest priority and we appreciate the community’s cooperation in this matter.”

Cameras caught Johnson and Collins – both of whom had previously been charged with murder – climbing through the ceiling and escaping behind an outside wall, Sheriff Edward Goods said, according to WAPT.

Want to stay up to date with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter to get breaking crime news, ongoing court coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

According to NBC News, Police Chief Christy Sykes said the suspects also used bedsheets to get to the floor.

According to WAPT, a suspect was seen on China Grove Road Friday morning as part of a manhunt by authorities, Goods added.

“When someone is in jail and charged with murder, you want to make sure they are arrested as quickly as possible because you don’t want them to go out and hurt more people,” said Jefferson County Sheriff James Bailey.

Sykes told NBC News that prison escapes continue to be a problem.

“It was a problem,” Sykes said. “We are working closely with the board to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”

Collins was first arrested in October 2023 for the alleged murder of his 46-year-old cousin, WJTV reported at the time. Johnson is charged with murder and aggravated assault. He was indicted in October 2022 for allegedly killing one person and injuring two others. His trial is scheduled for October 15, according to the Associated Press.

According to WAPT, the Mississippi Highway Patrol, US Marshals and police from Claiborne and neighboring counties Warren, Jefferson and Adams are also searching for the suspects.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the inmates is asked to contact authorities immediately. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is urging anyone who sees the suspects not to approach them. Instead, they should call 911 or the Claiborne County Sheriff’s Office at (601) 437-5161.