Two ‘dangerous’ escapees include suspect in parking lot shootout, NC officials say

A man accused of engaging in a shootout during a riot is among the two “armed and dangerous” suspects who escaped a North Carolina jail, according to the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation.

Lishawn Knott and Michael Miles Jr. were being held at the Vance County jail in Henderson when they absconded around 2 p.m. Wednesday, the SBI said in a news release.

Details of how the men escaped have not been released. The two “were familiar with one another prior to being arrested,” the sheriff’s office says.

“Should be considered armed and dangerous,” the SBI reported in a June 3 Facebook post. “Anyone who sees either man is urged to call 911 immediately and report their location. Do not approach or attempt to confront them.”

Lishawn Knott, 21, has been previously convicted of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, and was arrested in March on the same charge, court records show.

He is also accused of felony rioting by “engaging in a public disturbance” that included a shootout in crowded public parking lot, an arrest warrant says. The assault with a deadly weapon happened during the incident, records report.

Michael Lewis Miles Jr., 33, was arrested May 1 on drug trafficking and weapons charges, including possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, the Vance County Sheriff’s Office says.

A $40,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the two fugitive, the SBI says.

Henderson is about a 45-mile drive northeast from downtown Raleigh.

This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 7:43 AM with the headline "Two ‘dangerous’ escapees include suspect in parking lot shootout, NC officials say."