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.

February 27, 2024

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

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.

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. 

Recommended
Maximizing Fleet Efficiency and Accountability with Traka Key Management Solutions
Sponsored
Maximizing Fleet Efficiency and Accountability with Traka Key Management Solutions
Banner Final Gettyimages 1310108875 170667a
Webinars
Staying Ahead of the Curve: Navigating Emerging Drugs for Law Enforcement
Banner Final Gettyimages 470407026 170667a
Webinars
How to Support More Effective De-Escalation and Use-of-Force Training
Web Graphic Thumbnail Rtcc Checklist 375x480
Build Your Real-Time Crime Center
Related Stories
Kansas City, Missouri, Officer James Muhlbauer and his K-9 champ were killed in a 2023 crash. The man responsible for their deaths has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.
Patrol
Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Deaths of Missouri Officer, Pedestrian
Leon Ruffin had been in custody since July on multiple charges, including second-degree murder, aggravated assault with a weapon, and felon in possession of a firearm. He was convicted and was sentenced to life.
Patrol
Murder Suspect Escapes by Pepper Spraying Deputy, Stealing Transport Vehicle
Police Fleet Innovators Award
Patrol
Deadline Extended for Police Fleet Innovators Award Applications
Houston Police Chief Troy Finner provides an update on how the department is digging into the more than 4,000 adult sexual assault cases that were put on hold when they were flagged “suspended due to lack of personnel.”
Patrol
Houston Chief: 4,017 Sex Assault Cases Were Not Investigated, Pledges to Correct
More in Patrol
Patrol
Texas Officer Dies from Wounds Suffered in Domestic Response Shooting
The man who reportedly shot and killed Officer Kyle Hicks was identified Tuesday by the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s officer as 26-year-old Colton Foster. He was fatally shot by officers responding with Hicks.
Officer Kyle Hicks of the Corpus Christi, Texas, Police Department died Wednesday from wounds he suffered during a Saturday domestic response shooting.
Patrol
Texas Sheriff’s Investigator Fatally Struck After Stopping to Help at Crash
A white Chevrolet truck was nearing the deputy's patrol vehicle and attempted to swerve to avoid it. Still, the Chevrolet hit the deputy despite the deputy trying to get out of the way, the sheriff said.
Harris County, Texas, Sheriff's investigator John Hampton Coddou was fatally struck at an accident scene Tuesday.
Patrol
Murder of Chicago Officer Driving Home from Shift Will be Classified Line of Duty
The death of Officer Luis M. Huesca will be classified as line of duty. Huesca was driving home from his shift Sunday when he was slain in an apparent carjacking.
Chicago Officer Luis M. Huesca was murdered Sunday while he drove home from his shift. The department says the murder will be considered line of duty.
Patrol
New York Officer Shot in the Leg Last Week Faces Long Recovery
“The surgeons had to insert a rod to secure the broken femur, but were unable to remove all of the fragments of the bullet as they were too close to his femoral artery,” a supporter wrote on GoFundMe.
Patrol
California Motor Deputy Shot in Back at Intersection, Saved by Armor
Deputy Samuel Aispuro was in uniform and was riding a department-issued motorcycle at the time of the shooting. The round did not penetrate the vest, and he is in stable condition at a local hospital.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna announces the arrest of a suspect in the shooting of a motorcycle patrol deputy. Deputy Samuel Aispuro was protected by his body armor during the Monday ambush.
Technology
Axon Introduces AI-Powered, Automated Police Reporting Tool
Agency trials have resulted in roughly one hour of time saved per day on paperwork, the company says. For every eight officers who use Draft One during their day, that translates to an extra eight-hour shift or more.
Officer using Draft One. The new Axon tool transcribes audio from the company's current body-worn cameras and uses artificial intelligence to produce a police report.
Patrol
Chicago Officer Shot and Killed Driving Home from Shift
Officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert just before 3 a.m. and found Officer Luis Huesca outside of his vehicle and wounded. He died at a local hospital.
Patrol
Texas Officer Critically Wounded at Domestic, Fighting for Life
Officer Kyle Hicks was responding to a domestic disturbance call at 12:32 a.m. Saturday at the. At the location a man and woman were involved in a disturbance with shots fired.
Corpus Christi, Texas, Police Officer Kyle Hicks was critically wounded at a domestic Saturday.
Patrol
Oklahoma Investigator Dies After On-Duty Medical Event
Investigator Brian Herbert, 56, was on the range during annual firearms qualification when he felt chest pains and lost consciousness.
Patrol
Idaho Deputy Shot and Killed During Traffic Stop
Boise Police said the suspect fled and was located at a residence in Boise less than an hour later, but was "uncooperative." Shortly before midnight, police said the suspect shot at officers, who returned fire.
Deputy Tobin Bolter of the Ada County (Idaho) Sheriff's Office was shot and mortally wounded Saturday. He died in the hospital Sunday.
Patrol
Albany Police Say Man who Shot Officer Killed Self
The officer wounded early Wednesday morning was Jonathan Damphier, police confirmed Thursday. Damphier has been with the department since 2021, and is recovering from a successful surgery.
Patrol
Memphis Officer Killed Last Week in Shootout May Have been Hit by Friendly Fire
"Although current information indicates friendly fire, we believe the 17-year-old’s reprehensible actions are still the real cause of Officer McKinney’s death..." the DA's office said in a statement.
Page 1 of 2354
Next Page