David Atkins and Willie Jackson: Cops issue warning as 'extremely violent' teen murder suspects escape Louisiana juvenile facility

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA: A pair of teenage murder suspects escaped from a Louisiana juvenile detention facility over the weekend, including one who had just been recaptured after breaking out less than two weeks ago, as per New York Post.

This was the second time in two weeks that 17-year-old David Atkins slipped through the grasp of the guards at the East Baton Rouge Juvenile Detention Center. This time he had company—another 17-year-old murder suspect named Willie Jackson.

David Atkins and Willie Jackson should be considered armed and dangerous

The pair escaped over the weekend from the troubled juvenile facility, sparking a manhunt by the Baton Rouge Police Department and US Marshals Service. Authorities warn that the teens should be considered armed and dangerous and urge the public not to approach them if spotted.

"We want the public to be cautious as they may have changed their hairstyles. We are encouraging those that may see them, that may know their whereabouts, or may actually be out and about [and] just witness these individuals out in the community, to not hesitate to call 911 or Crime Stoppers," said a BRPD spokesperson.

Multiple successful and attempted escapes have plagued the center in recent years. Last year, the aging facility was allocated $2 million to install 50 new metal doors and upgrade surveillance cameras. But a spokesperson for the mayor said the renovations remain in early planning stages without a clear timeline for completion.

Who is David Atkins?

Atkins was originally arrested in May 2022 and charged with second-degree murder for his role in a 2021 shooting. The charges were upgraded after evidence showed Atkins fired the shots that killed the victim.

Known to local police as part of a group called "Young N Gifted" or YNG, Atkins had previous gun and drug charges before the murder. He was awaiting trial on the first-degree murder charge when he escaped custody over the weekend.

This was the second time Atkins escaped from the juvenile detention facility. In November, he slipped away when guards were distracted while dealing with a fight between inmates. He was captured within 24 hours after authorities received a tip on his whereabouts.

Who is Willie Jackson?

Jackson was sent to the juvenile facility in January 2023 on first-degree murder charges. He and two other defendants allegedly shot and killed a man in a December 2022 robbery attempt gone wrong near Southern University.

Along with the murder charges, Jackson faces a series of related gun and robbery charges for other violent incidents that occurred in late 2022. The murder in December came amidst this violent spree of alleged armed robberies.

Like Atkins, Jackson was awaiting trial for the first-degree murder of an innocent victim when the pair managed to escape custody over the weekend. Authorities continue to investigate how the teens slipped away undetected.