Police Fatally Shoot Richard Matt, Pursuing Second Escaped Inmate
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y., June 26 (UPI) — Richard Matt, one of the two convicted murderers who escaped from a prison in upstate New York three weeks ago, was shot dead Friday, law enforcement officials said.
Sources told CNN Matt was shot and officers were pursuing the second escaped inmate, David Sweat.
Sources told The New York Times and ABC News, quoting sources, reported Matt died of his injuries.
The shootout was prompted by an alleged carjacking incident involving a recreational vehicle. Police said Matt had obtained a firearm and allegedly shot at the driver of a camper. The driver then called 911, leading to the shootout.
Police said that though they were chasing Sweat, they didn’t have eyes on him after the shooting of Matt.
Earlier Friday, in a news conference, Maj. Charles Guess told reporters they believed the men were headed to Canada. “Based on what we know at this point, we have a high degree of confidence in our conclusion,”
he said.
It’s unclear exactly where the shooting of Matt took place.
Police believe Matt and Sweat were moving under cover of darkness. They have found items apparently belonging to the men in the towns of Belmont and Malone, N.Y.
“We have drawn definitive conclusions from that,” Guess said.
Sources told the Plattsburgh Press-Republican that DNA from Matt was found at a cabin in Malone, which is about 10 miles south of the Canadian border.
DNA from at least one of the men was found over the weekend at a cabin in Owls Head, N.Y.
The two men, who used tools to escape from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, N.Y., on June 6, have picked up basic survival supplies to help them on the run. Guess said the terrain in which the men are traveling is difficult and rugged.
“It’s as much a challenge to the inmates as it has been to the law enforcement,” he said.
Police say Matt and Sweat had help in their escape from two prison workers — Joyce Mitchell and Gene Palmer. Mitchell allegedly hid tools for the men to use in frozen hamburger meat.
She has pleaded not guilty to charges of promoting prison contraband, a felony, and criminal facilitation, a misdemeanor.
Palmer, a guard at the prison, was also arrested on charges of first-degree promoting prison contraband, two counts of tampering with evidence and official misconduct. He is accused of giving the frozen hamburger meat to the men.
He was initially suspended with pay, but his pay has now also been suspended, the Press-Republican reported.
