Richard Matt, one of the two escaped New York prisoners, has been killed by police after weeks on the run, officials say.
Richard Matt, 49, was shot dead in woodlands near the town of Malone, about 30 miles from the Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora.
David Sweat, another convicted murderer, remains at large as police continue to search the area.
Richard Matt and David Sweat escaped through the prison sewer system after using power tools to break out of their cell on June 6.
The New York jailbreak set off a massive manhunt.
Photo U.S. Marshals Service
On June 26, police were called to an area south of Malone where a camper van had been attacked. They found evidence left behind by the pair in a nearby hunting cabin.
Richard Matt was later found in woodland armed with a shotgun, police say. When he refused to surrender officers shot him dead, they add.
A search for David Sweat is continuing in the area. Police say he is dangerous and warned the public not to approach him.
Prisoner worker Joyce Mitchell has been charged with aiding the inmates in their escape.
Prosecutors allege that she gave the men power tools that allowed them to saw through a steel cell wall before bashing a hole through a brick wall and crawling through.
Joyce Mitchell denies the charges.
Before their escape, Richard Matt was serving a prison sentence of 25 years to life for the killing of his former boss.
David Sweat was serving a life sentence for murdering a sheriff’s deputy.
The escape of convicted murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat from a maximum security jail in New York has been described as a “crisis situation” by Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Richard Matt, 48, and David Sweat, 34, used power tools to break out of Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora near the Canadian border.
Andrew Cuomo said: “These are dangerous men capable of committing grave crimes again.”
New York State is offering a $100,000 reward for any information leading to Richard Matt and David Sweat arrest.
The governor said the prison breakout was the first escape from the facility in 150 years.
The New York Post reported that Richard Matt and David Sweat cut through the steel back walls of their cell before clambering along a catwalk to reach a series of pipes and tunnels, which they again cut their way through.
Richard Matt and David Sweat then climbed up through a manhole into a nearby street, “disappearing into the darkness some 20 miles south of Canada”.
They placed bundles of clothing in their beds to fool guards into believing they were asleep, before making their escape during Friday night. Their absence from adjoining cells was not discovered until the following morning.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said someone must have heard at least some of the noise.
After the prisoners were apprehended, the authorities would conduct a full review of the escape, he added.
“We’ll go through the exact details of what they did and how they did it to ensure this never happens again.”
Richard Matt was given a jail term of 25 years to life for the kidnapping and beating a man to death in 1997.
David Sweat was serving a life sentence without parole for the murder of Broome County Sheriff’s Deputy, Kevin Tarsia.
Police are trying to determine how the men acquired the tools needed to carry out the escape.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo posted pictures of pipes and walls with chunks cut out after he was shown the inmates’ escape route.
More than 200 officers are searching for Richard Matt and David Sweat, using sniffer dogs and aerial surveillance.
They may have crossed the border into Canada or headed to another state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. There is also concern they may have had assistance from someone outside the prison.
Roadblocks have been set up in the area to catch Richard Matt and David Sweat, who both have distinctive tattoos, according to local media.
Two convicted killers are on the run after escaping from a maximum security jail in New York.
They used power tools to cut through steel pipes at a maximum-security prison near the Canadian border and escape through a manhole, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said on June 6.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo described Richard Matt and David Sweat as “dangerous individuals”.
They cut through steel pipes at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora and fled through a man hole.
Andrew Cumo said the prison breakout was the first escape from the facility in 150 years.
Photo New York State Police
“It was an elaborate plot,” the governor added.
David Sweat, 34, was serving a life sentence without parole for the first degree murder of Broome County sheriff’s deputy.
Richard Matt, 48, was given a jail term of 25 years to life for the kidnapping and beating a man to death in 1997.
The two men’s adjoining cells were found to be empty during a morning check, said Anthony Annuci, the acting state corrections commissioner.
“A search revealed that there was a hole cut out of the back of the cell through which these inmates escaped,” he added.
“They went onto a catwalk which is about six stories high. We estimate they climbed down and had power tools and were able to get out to this facility through tunnels, cutting away at several spots.”
Police are trying to determine how the men acquired the tools.
More than 200 officers are searching for the prisoners, using sniffer dogs and aerial surveillance.
Clinton Correctional Facility is about 20 miles from the Canadian border. Roadblocks have been set up in the area, according to local media.
David Sweat is described as a white male, 5ft 11in tall, with brown hair and green eyes. He weighs 165lb and has tattoos on his left bicep and his right fingers.
Richard Matt is also white and is 6ft tall.
He has black hair and hazel eyes and weighs around 210lbs.
Richard Matt’s tattoos include “Mexico Forever” on his back, a heart on his chest and left shoulder and a Marine Corps insignia on his right shoulder.
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