RICHMOND, Va. -- Virginia State Police are searching for two Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center inmates who choked a security guard and escaped through a hole in the fence early Monday morning, according to Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice officials.
Jabar A. Taylor, 20, of Spotsylvania, convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and aggravated malicious assault.
Rashad E. Williams, 18, of Washington, D.C., convicted of malicious wounding and robbery.
They were ordered incarcerated at Bon Air Juvenile until their 21st birthdays.
"[They] used a cord of undetermined origin to choke the security staff member, who briefly lost consciousness. They took the staff member’s keys which they used to exit the unit, and then escaped through a hole that had been cut in the facility’s perimeter security fence," the official said. "They then boarded and left in a vehicle that appears to have been waiting for them. It was unclear whether the residents cut the hole in the fence, or whether the hole had been pre-cut."
The guard was treated and released from the hospital.
"This is the first escape we’ve had at Bon Air in over 20 years,” DJJ Director Valerie Boykin said. “DJJ takes very seriously our role in promoting public safety, and are therefore releasing the names and photos of these young adults to aid in their apprehension, as allowed by the Virginia Code [16.1-309.1]. We are very concerned about how this happened and will fully investigate the circumstances and ensure that appropriate action is taken."
Neighbors living near Bon Air Correctional expressed fear about the escape and expressed concern that hey didn't know it happened early Monday Morning.
"It's defnitely concerning and scary," said one neighbor.
"I think it would be nice to at least alert the neighbors when an escape happens, said another neighbor."
Bon Air residents say the escape is very alarming, considering the amount of children who live nearby.
"I mean it's pretty close to here and this street has a lot of children and families. so, you know, I guess if they were really desperate, they could have come over here and tried to talk to one of us, or break into a house. So its pretty concerning," the neighbir added.
"It just gives you a lot of pause, that you want to go inside for the day, and not go out. You just don't know. You would think they're long gone from here by now, but you just don't know," added neighbor Andrew Wright.
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