Manhunt is launched for two ‘dangerous’ fugitives, 18 and 20, who escaped from a juvenile detention center in Virginia after assaulting a guard
- Jabar Taylor, 20, and Rashad Williams, 18, broke out of the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center in Chesterfield County, Virginia, on July 13
- Officials said they assaulted a guard before slipping through a hole in a fence
- The men were last seen more than 230 miles away in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Two jail employees and a relative of Williams were arrested in connection with the escape
- The US Marshals service is offering a $5,000 reward for info leading to capture
- ‘The danger posed by these fugitives and their escape should not be taken lightly by anyone,’ the US marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia said
A manhunt is underway for two fugitives who escaped from a jail in Virginia nearly a week ago.
Jabar Taylor, 20, and Rashad Williams, 18, broke out of the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center in Chesterfield County on July 13 after assaulting a guard, according to the US Marshals Service.
The men were recently spotted about 230 miles from the jail in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, officials said Saturday as they urged the public to remain on high alert.
‘The danger posed by these fugitives and their escape should not be taken lightly by anyone,’ Nick E Proffitt, US marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia, said in a statement.
‘The fugitives went to great lengths to affect the escape, and they pose a significant threat to any law enforcement officer or member of the public who may encounter them.’
A manhunt is underway for fugitives Jabar Taylor, 20, (left) and Rashad Williams, 18, (right) who escaped from a juvenile detention center in Chesterfield County, Virginia, on July 13
Taylor and Williams broke out of the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center (pictured) after assaulting a guard, according to the US Marshals Service
Taylor was behind bars after having been convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and aggravated malicious assault, officials said, while Williams was convicted of malicious wounding and robbery.
The Marshals Service said the men escaped by attacking a corrections officer and then slipping through a hole in a perimeter fence before fleeing in a getaway car that was parked outside the jail.
Officials believe that the men made their way north as they have ‘significant known ties’ to northern Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, Delaware, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York and North Carolina.
The agency said the pair are believed to be together but it’s possible they may have separated.
The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office issued a press release on Saturday confirming that the fugitives were recently spotted in the area.
The men allegedly stayed at a Homewood Suites hotel in Lancaster earlier last week, and surveillance footage captured them at a nearby Turkey Hill store.
The Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office issued a press release on Saturday confirming that the fugitives had stayed at the local Homewood Suites hotel (pictured) earlier this week
Surveillance video also showed the men at a Turkey Hill store in Lancaster (pictured)
Three people have already been arrested in connection with their escape, including a relative of Williams and two employees at Bon Air detention center, WTVR reported.
Williams’ relative Gerald Thornton, 33, was arrested on two counts of aiding with the escape of a juvenile on July 14. He is currently being held in Pennsylvania awaiting extradition to Chesterfield County.
Bon Air employee Destiny L Harris, 23, was arrested on the same charges, also on July 14. She is currently being held at Chesterfield County Jail.
The following day the Virginia State Police arrested employee Darren Briggs, 42, on one felony count of providing a cell phone to a prisoner. He is also being held at Chesterfield County Jail.
The Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $5,000 each for information leading to the arrests of the men.
Taylor is described as 5’9″ and about 140 pounds, and Williams as 5’7″ and about 140 pounds.
Officials asked anyone with information to contact the Marshals Service at 1-877-926-8332 or via the agency’s website.