New Orleans Escapees Captured in Texas After Coordinated Law Enforcement Pursuit
HUNTSVILLE, TX — Two fugitives who escaped custody in New Orleans are now back behind bars after a high-stakes, multi-agency law enforcement operation ended in their capture in Huntsville, Texas. Jermaine Donald and Leo Tate, both wanted on outstanding warrants, were apprehended following a coordinated pursuit that culminated in a felony traffic stop on U.S. Highway 190.
The dramatic events unfolded when the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) initiated a pursuit of the suspects, whose presence in Texas had been flagged through inter-agency intelligence efforts. Authorities had been tracking the duo since their escape from New Orleans, where they were both facing serious charges. Their flight across state lines had triggered a regional manhunt involving both Louisiana and Texas law enforcement agencies.
According to officials, Donald and Tate were spotted traveling in a vehicle believed to be connected to their escape. When DPS troopers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the suspects allegedly refused to comply, prompting a pursuit that required the coordination of multiple units to ensure public safety. The chase ultimately ended on US 190, just outside Huntsville, where law enforcement conducted a controlled felony stop—a high-risk traffic stop used when dealing with potentially dangerous individuals.
Both men were taken into custody without incident and are currently being held on their original warrants, with additional charges likely to be filed in relation to their escape and subsequent flight. Authorities have not yet released the full details of their escape from New Orleans, but preliminary reports suggest it was a calculated and premeditated effort.
Local and state officials praised the interagency collaboration that led to the swift apprehension of the fugitives. “This is a prime example of what can be accomplished when agencies across state lines work together with urgency and precision,” said a Texas DPS spokesperson. “We are grateful that this situation was resolved safely and that these individuals will now be held accountable.”
The capture of Donald and Tate has brought a sense of relief to communities in both Louisiana and Texas, where concerns had mounted over the fugitives’ potential danger to the public. The investigation remains ongoing, and both men are expected to be extradited back to Louisiana to face justice for their original charges and any new offenses committed during their escape.
Officials have not yet confirmed the specific charges the escapees were originally facing, but sources familiar with the case indicate they involve violent crimes, further underscoring the seriousness of their recapture.