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Escaped Prisoner Who Attacked Louisiana Deputy Still at Large

The Sheriff’s Office quickly disabled the radio inside the deputy’s vehicle to prevent the escapee from using it to evade authorities. The patrol unit was recovered in Algiers within about 3 hours.

by Staff
February 27, 2024
Escaped Prisoner Who Attacked Louisiana Deputy Still at Large

Leon Ruffin Jr., 51, is subject of a manhunt involving more than 200 agencies, including local police and deputies, state police and the FBI.

Credit:

Jefferson Parish SO

1 min to read



The fugitive murder suspect who escaped custody after pepper spraying a Jefferson Parish (Louisiana) Sheriff's deputy during a trip to a hospital Sunday remains at large.

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Leon Ruffin Jr., 51, is subject of a manhunt involving more than 200 agencies, including local police and deputies, state police and the FBI, NOLA.com reports.

Ruffin was being held at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna while awaiting trial for second-degree murder of Gannon Johnson, 53. Authorities say that after he attacked the deputy, he drove off in the prisoner transport vehicle. 


The Sheriff’s Office quickly disabled the radio inside the deputy’s vehicle to prevent Ruffin from using it to evade authorities. The patrol unit was recovered in Algiers within about 3 hours, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said. Investigators still aren't sure where Ruffin obtained the pepper spray. 

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