The New York prison escape story that has captivated the country appears to be at the end. Local news has reported that both prisoners were shot, one fatally and the other is now in custody.
For over three-weeks a manhunt for two escaped prisoners, called a “nightmare” by the governor of New York, came to a violent end this past weekend when one inmate was shot and killed Friday and another was shot and apprehended Sunday. After 22 days of searching by more than 1,000 law enforcement officials, the convicted murderers were finally captured.
Officials announced they had reason to believe the two convicts who escaped June 6 from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York, were planning to head to the Canadian border in a final play for freedom. This was after earlier reports said their plan to escape to Mexico failed due to a ride not showing up. U.S. and Canadian law enforcement sent reinforcements in an effort to squeeze the escapees and keep them from potentially making it out of the country.
Sometime Friday afternoon a civilian pulling a camper near Duane, New York. He heard a sound and later discovered after pulling into a campsite that there was a bullet hole in the camper.
After that, a S.W.A.T. team was deployed to a nearby cabin in New York about 20 miles south of the Canadian border.
Inside, they noticed the smell of gun powder. While searching the grounds, investigators noticed movement and heard coughing, state police said.
A short time later Matt, armed with a 20-gauge shotgun, was spotted by a law enforcement officer.
The convict was shot and killed by a Customs and Border Protection SWAT team. He had been serving 25 years to life in prison after being convicted of murder for beating a man to death.
Investigators then set up a perimeter in the area around where Matt was killed to try and corner the last fugitive.
Later that day a policeman was on a routine patrol in the area of Constable, New York, about 1.5 miles south of the Canadian border, when he spotted Sweat on a local road.
The cop ordered him to stop and shot the convict twice in the chest when he started to run.
Sweat, who was serving a life sentence after he was convicted of killing a sheriff’s deputy, was not armed and no law enforcement was injured in the capture.
Have you or a loved one been arrested for a criminal offense or a crime of violence? Then call the Saint Petersburg criminal defense lawyers of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. today! These former prosecutors are experienced trial attorneys.
Blake & Dorsten, P.A. handles all criminal and car accident cases along the Gulf Coast including St. Pete, Clearwater, Tampa, Largo, Brandon, Safety Harbor, Palm Harbor, Seminole, Feathersound, Pinellas Park and Bradenton.
To speak directly with your Pinellas criminal defense attorney click on the contact button or call 727.286.6141. Blake & Dorsten, P.A…when your case matters!