A teen who shot and paralyzed a New Orleans man in 2019 is on the run after escaping from a facility in Avoyelles Parish. The victim's family says they weren't notified of the escape by state officials, learning of it only when the D. A.'s Office contacted them.
According to Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams, Lynell Reynolds escaped from a facility in Bunkie.
"Friday, my office discovered that a juvenile defendant, recently released from secure custody by the Court, escaped after release," Williams said in a statement. "The defendant was previously confined in OJJ custody on an attempted second degree murder charge. Following a sentence modification by an Orleans Parish juvenile Court Judge, the defendant was released to a non-secure care at program in Lake Charles. This juvenile’s release occurred over the objections of our prosecutors."
Williams says state officials never bothered to tell him about the Reynolds's escape.
"Regrettably, my office was not made aware of the escape by the court or the Office of Juvenile Justice," he said.
It's a sentiment echoed by the victim's family.
Darrelle Scott is confined to a wheelchair, the result of a gunshot blast fired by Reynolds during a 2019 armed robbery in New Orleans East. According to published reports, Scott says he learned of Reynolds's escape nine days after it happened when an official from the district attorney's office contacted him. Scott's grandmother says she, Scott, and the rest of their family are fearful that Reynolds may target them now that he's on the run.
The Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice still has not publicly acknowledged Reynolds's escape. The OJJ has posted neither details of his case nor any information that could help the public find him on any of their websites or other online pages.
District Attorney Williams says anyone who's caught aiding and abetting Reynolds, who turned 18 just days before his escape earlier this month, will face criminal charges.
