Teen murder suspect escapes Louisiana jail for second time in two weeks

A pair of teenage murder suspects escaped from a Louisiana juvenile detention facility over the weekend, including one who had just been recaptured after breaking out less than two weeks ago.

The escapees, both 17, have been identified by Baton Rouge Police as David Atkins and Willie Jackson, both inmates of the East Baton Rouge Juvenile Detention Center who are being held on first-degree murder charges.

For Atkins, it’s the second escape from the facility in as many weeks. He and another teen managed to slip away from guards who were distracted putting inmates back in their cells after a brawl involving several prisoners on Nov. 14, The Advocate reported.

The teens were apprehended a little more than 24 hours later after authorities received a tip that led them to a home where they were hiding out.

Baton Rouge cops didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry seeking comment by The Post, but in an earlier statement provided to WAFB, authorities said the teens should be considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.

“We want the public to be cautious as they may have changed their hairstyles. We are encouraging those that may see them that may know their whereabouts or may actually be out and about just witness these individuals out in the community to not hesitate to call 911 or Crime Stoppers,” a BRPD spokesperson told the outlet.

The juvenile detention facility the teens escaped from has something of a spotty reputation, following several other similar incidents in recent years.

In 2021, a pack of five inmates escaped after overpowering a staffer, who they locked in a cell without a radio after stealing her keys, The Advocate reported. It was the second jailbreak of the year.

In February of last year, eight teenage inmates managed to escape their cells before getting in a fight in which three of them were injured, which left doors and windows in the facility smashed.

That same year East Baton Rouge Parish had earmarked $2 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to fortify the facility with 50 new metal security doors and upgrade its security camera system.

However, a spokesperson from Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome’s office told The Advocate that as of this week, the planned updates are still in the planning and design phase and have no definitive timeline for implementation.

The Baton Rouge police and US Marshals Service are currently in pursuit of the escaped teens.

It was not immediately known how Atkins and Jackson escaped their confinement.