A Louisiana inmate is on the run after he pepper sprayed an officer and then escaped from custody during a medical transport on Sunday, according to authorities.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office is searching for convicted murderer Leon Ruffin, Sheriff Joseph Lopinto said at a news conference Sunday night. Ruffin is described as a black man, bald, approximately 5 feet 9 inches tall and 270 pounds.
His current whereabouts are unknown. Ruffin is considered armed and dangerous and the public is urged to report any information regarding his location to authorities.
He 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, and was sentenced to life in prison.
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The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office is searching for convicted murderer Leon Ruffin, who escaped from custody Sunday night. (Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office)
Lopinto said Ruffin was transported from Ochsner Medical Center at 2500 Belle Chasse Highway to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center around 6:40 p.m. after treatment for a seizure when Ruffin interrupted the transport by creating a disturbance, causing the agent escorting him exited the vehicle.
When the officer opened the vehicle door to address the disturbance, Lopinto said Ruffin used pepper spray on her, charged her and stole the vehicle. The officer responded by firing her gun several times at Ruffin, although it is unclear if any of the shots hit him.
It's also unclear where Ruffin found the pepper spray, as the officer still had his pepper spray, Lopinto said.
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It's unclear where Ruffin found the pepper spray he used on a female officer before escaping custody. (Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office)
Ruffin fled the scene in the marked Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office vehicle with identification number GO68 and license plate 239626.
The abandoned police vehicle was found in the Algiers neighborhood around 9:20 p.m., but Ruffin was not located in the area.
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The sheriff's office is working with other agencies to locate Ruffin.
This incident remains under investigation.
