Second NY prison escapee caught
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Loading... - J. Oliveira
- 29 Jun 2020
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Second New York State prison escapee David Sweat is in custody after being shot by police, US officials report.
Convicted murderer Sweat, 35, was shot twice and captured less than two miles (3km) from the Canadian border.
His prison-break partner Richard Matt, 49, was killed by police on Friday.
The two murderers escaped three weeks ago from the maximum security Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora through the sewer system after using power tools to break out of their cell.
The spectacular escape set off a massive manhunt.
'Bleeding badly'
Sweat was shot and seized in the town of Constable on Sunday, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo told a news conference.
He said Sweat was shot twice in the torso and was now in hospital in stable condition.
The convict was spotted by a police officer on patrol and shot when he tried to run away.
"The nightmare is finally over," the governor said.
David Sweat was taken to hospital after being shot twice
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives wrote on its Twitter page: "#DavidSweat of the #PrisonBreakNY captured. Sleep peacefully New York."
The Buffalo News website earlier quoted a source who said that the convict's wound were "life-threatening" and he was bleeding badly.
Matt was shot dead near the town of Malone.
The pair had been making their way through rugged forests in upstate New York, stealing food and guns from woodland cabins along the way.
US officials have charged prison worker Joyce Mitchell with aiding the two inmates in their escape.
Prosecutors allege that she gave the men power tools that allowed them to saw through a steel cell wall before bashing a hole through a brick wall and crawling through.
Ms Mitchell denies the charges.
Clinton correction officer Gene Palmer is also accused of aiding the convicts.
Officials allege that he gave Sweat and Matt the frozen hamburger meat Ms Mitchell had used to hide hacksaw blades and a screwdriver.
Mr Palmer's attorney said his client had no knowledge that the meat contained the escape tools.
Matt was serving a prison sentence of 25 years to life for the killing and dismembering of his former boss.
Sweat was serving a life sentence for murdering a sheriff's deputy.
Manhunt timeline
- 5 June: David Sweat and Richard Matt escape from Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora
- 6-7 June: Possible sighting of pair in Dannemora
- 9 June: Search focuses on Willsboro area after another possible sighting
- 10 June: Police close off Route 374 between Dannemora and Cadyville and search expands to neighbouring Vermont
- 11 June: Police dogs find food wrapper and footprint at suspected camp site near Dannemora
- 15 June: Prison worker Joyce Mitchell pleads not guilty to aiding the prisoners
- 24 June: Prison worker Gene Palmer charged with aiding the prisoners
- 25 June: Richard Matt is shot and killed near the Canadian border
- 27 June: David Sweat shot and captured near Canadian border
