Nash sheriff asks public to be on the lookout for 5 men who escaped from jail

The five men who escaped from the Nash County jail Monday afternoon were still on the loose hours later, the Nash County Sheriff said.

Sheriff Keith Stone asked residents to be looking out for the five men. He spoke during a news conference shortly after 8 p.m. Monday that was live streamed by ABC11, The News & Observer’s media partner.

Authorities are looking for Raheem Horne, Laquaris Battle, David Viverrette, David Ruffin and Keonte Murphy, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Stone said his deputies are being assisted in their search by the State Highway Patrol, which has deployed a helicopter. The FBI and the United States Marshall’s Service also are searching, he said.

Stone said the inmates had been in a fenced-in exercise area when they escaped. The area was only being monitored by a camera, he said.

“Any time you’re dealing with technology, there are going to be deficiencies,” he said.

The escape happened around 4 p.m. Monday, Stone said.

People with information regarding those who escaped can call the Nash County Sheriff’s Office at 252-459-1510.

This story was originally published March 25, 2019 at 5:27 PM.