On this busy usual Tuesday, waitstaff at Daisy Mae’s Southern Fried Chicken & Breakfast in New Orleans shout out customer orders to the kitchen crew. However, everything seems irregular beyond the restaurant walls.
Numerous police personnel are
searching the streets for inmates who broke free from a city jail on May 16.
The hunt has extended into the city’s renowned French Quarter.
Where some of the escapees appeared in videos.
while on the run. One inmate was found hiding under a car in the garage of one of the
city’s swankiest hotels.
Nevertheless, the city continues to be lively, according to Tess Gonzales, who manages Daisy Mae’s. Gonzales mentioned that there is some concern over the prisoners who have fled and are still at large on the streets, yet there is also a sense of relief now that
Five have been apprehended within five days.
.
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It’s both yes and no. We do have concerns about our safety since these individuals are dangerous criminals,” Gonzales stated to USA TODAY. “However, that doesn’t mean we will cease carrying on with our daily routines.
Gonzales, who is 53 years old, swiftly points out New Orleans’ resilience during challenging periods like this.
Hurricane Katrina
She remembers how the city quickly recovered following an incident involving an armed individual.
crashed a fast-moving truck into people celebrating New Year’s Day
on Bourbon Street, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more in what officials called a domestic terror attack.
After the jailbreak,
Officials encouraged the community to stay alert yet calm despite their suspicion that individuals both within the prison and outside may be assisting the escapees. The bold breakout happened from
a long-troubled facility
has placed some individuals nearest to the criminals’ actions on high alert, whereas other citizens of New Orleans mention they have continued with their normal routines.
We maintain the pace here. The city doesn’t cease operations. We continue forward. It’s necessary,” Gonzales stated.
‘I am not checking behind me’
The inmates
they fled during the predawn moments of May 16
, pulling a “damaged” cell door from its tracks, according to the police.
One forced a maintenance employee
Officials stated that by cutting off the water supply to a cell, the inmates were able to remove the toilet and sink unit and crawl through an opening in the wall.
The team subsequently escaped via a loading bay, climbed over a wall, and sprinted across an adjacent highway in a bold move caught on surveillance footage. Various sources have stated that they left behind a provocative message on the wall for those who had them confined: “Too Easy LoL.”
The governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, stated
The escape “might go down as the biggest prison break in the state’s history.” However, New Orleans resident Caliegh Flynn mentioned that it hasn’t caused her or her city to grind to a halt.
I haven’t been concerned about my safety at all during this whole period,” stated Flynn, aged 35. “More individuals who aren’t local have reached out to discuss the escape compared to the residents here. My mother sent me a message advising me to secure my locks.
Flynn, an administrative assistant and part-time college professor who teaches film, said she’s well aware of New Orleans’ status as an international tourist destination known for
Mardi Gras
and hosting
Super Bowls
She is also aware that it usually
one of the cities with the highest danger levels
in America.
She’s trying to remain strong.
The apprehension towards potential outcomes may lead you to avoid taking actions, interacting with others, which contradicts the way people wish to live around here,” stated Flynn, who has resided in New Orleans for a decade. “I don’t find myself constantly glancing back, pondering an exit.
Flynn stated that the escape is humiliating for New Orleans, given how much the city prioritizes such matters.
the city’s budget on public safety
, rather than schools or infrastructure. But having lived in other cities, including Philadelphia and Youngstown, Ohio, Flynn said New Orleans residents seemingly have a higher tolerance for chaos than most places she’s been.
“Folks in New Orleans are quite accustomed to unusual events, be they related to weather like hurricanes, politics involving corruption, or even crime,” Flynn stated.
‘Fear of Retribution’
The fugitives who remain at large
were waiting for their trials on accusations that included homicide, serious assault, and domestic violence.
Anne Kirkpatrick, who leads the New Orleans Police Department, stated
A City Council meeting scheduled for May 20
that law enforcement jumped into action not just to protect the general public, but also the victims, witnesses, and judges
connected to the criminal cases of the inmates.
Being highly proactive was key,” Kirkpatrick stated. “Patrol cars will be stationed at our schools.
But family members of
21-year-old Byron Jackson
and
26-year-old Jamar Robinson
they are still experiencing feelings of unease.
Jackson and Robinson were killed in a shooting during Mardi Gras in 2018. Derrick Groves, 27, was convicted of two charges of second-degree murder and two charges of attempted second-degree murder in connection with the shooting after he “brazenly boasted about the violence” on social media,
the district attorney’s office
said.
After Groves escaped on May 16, one of Jackson’s relatives left his home in Orleans Parish to stay with his girlfriend in another part of town, saying he feared for his safety.
Following a prolonged legal battle, Groves was incarcerated. His initial conviction occurred in 2019; however, he faced another trial in January 2023 as stated by the district attorney. This attempt concluded with a hung jury when one member reviewed external media coverage of the proceedings. A subsequent retrial in June 2023 also failed to reach a verdict due to a split decision among jurors.
Following Groves’ second conviction, a family member close to Jackson, who chose to remain anonymous due to safety fears, expressed relief at feeling as though they were finally receiving justice and could start to look forward. However, the recent escape has now left them feeling anxious once more.
The prosecutors who put Groves behind bars are worried, too. Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams
told reporters
Two of the attorneys who worked alongside him on the case have departed from the town with their families due to concerns about potential reprisal and revenge.
“Personally, I’m quite fearful,” Williams confessed.
The fears of Williams and his staff are no different than other residents, said
MiAngel Cody
, a federal criminal defense attorney and a New Orleans resident.
“I believe each one of us has had serious worries regarding the safety of our community – and these concerns existed before this escape occurred,” Cody stated.
A relative of Robinson mentioned that this person similarly evacuated New Orleans along with her children and grandchildren upon discovering that Groves had escaped. They remain indoors and are taking precautions. The family member also requested anonymity for their safety reasons.
Robinson’s relative said she doesn’t want to leave the place where he was raised, but she’s not sure she’ll feel safe in New Orleans even after Groves is caught. She said she was frustrated and angry with the officials running the jail.
Calls have been growing for
Orlean Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson plans to step down.
However, at Daisy Mae’s diner, Gonzales expressed her gratitude for the numerous law enforcement agencies that have teamed up to apprehend the escapees, similar to their collaboration following the terrorist attack.
“I’m pleased that everyone is collaborating to ensure our safety,” she remarked.
As for the remaining escapees, Gonzales thinks
They might quickly exhaust their choices.
Gonzales stated, “They can only evade capture for a limited period since a criminal will eventually act in a way that leads to their apprehension. Whether through making a move or committing an error, they risk getting caught over time.”
Contributors: Jeanine Santucci and Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY; Reuters
The article initially appeared on USA TODAY:
‘Retaliation fears’ in New Orleans: Large-scale prison break creates significant unease
