Police are searching for 10 of the 12 inmates who escaped yesterday from La Joyita Prison. Two of the fugitives have been recaptured.
Penitentiary System Director Luis Gordon confirmed that the escape occurred shortly before noon in Hall 14, where 105 prisoners are housed.
The escapees are Guillermo Guerra, Jonathan Méndez, Federico Jaén, Manuel Vásquez, Vladimir Souto, Rey Hernández, José Calderón, Ramiro González, Moisés Espinoza, David Martínez, Moisés García and Roberto Coogle. All of them are detained for violent crimes, including murder and robbery.
According to reports, the inmates surprised the guards, whom they tied up and stole their firearms and keys.
They then used the keys to get outside of the building, and jumped the perimeter fence and fled toward a wooded area at the rear of the center.
Police caught García and Coogle, the latter of which was taken to Santo Tomás Hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds he received while being taken into custody.
These prisoners were seized with two firearms.
Meanwhile, prison officials have launched an internal investigation to determine the exact circumstances in which the escape occurred and whether or not there was negligence or complicity on the part of the guards.
