A convicted murderer serving a life sentence, Ramone Alston, escaped custody Tuesday morning while being transported to a medical appointment in North Carolina.
Alston managed to free himself from leg restraints and fled into nearby woods, still handcuffed.
Officials stated that when last seen, Alston was wearing a gray T-shirt, brown pants, and white New Balance sneakers. He also had handcuffs attached to a waist chain.
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An extensive search involving state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies is underway, with a $35,000 reward being offered for information leading to his capture.
“He’s unpredictable — we don’t know what he’s going to do, so he should certainly probably be considered dangerous,” Keith Acree, a spokesperson for the Department of Adult Correction, said in a press briefing. “People make rash decisions at a time like this; he’s already made one very large rash decision this morning.”
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Alston was convicted for the tragic shooting death of a 1-year-old girl on Christmas Day in 2015. Authorities are urging anyone who sees him to call 911 immediately and not approach him.
Sheriff Charles Blackwood told reporters, though he said “cooperation has been varied.”
“He’s extremely cagey, he’s extremely dangerous, and he has nothing to lose,” Blackwood said.
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