Authorities seek 'dangerous' escaped Washington Co. inmates

Authorities are looking for two inmates who escaped the Washington County Regional Correctional Facility on Friday night.

It is not clear how Marquis Lavelle McKinney, 23, and Jeremiah Thomas Hair, 29, escaped the facility, but authorities are warning the public to be on the lookout.

They are suspected members of the Vice Lords street gang, police said.

McKinney, of Greenville, is 6 feet tall and around 260 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing an orange jumpsuit. Originally charged with capital murder, attempted murder, and two other drug charges, he was sentenced one week ago to 35 years in jail for one count of murder.

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Hair, of Netcalfe, is 5’10”, around 208 pounds, and has black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a sleeveless white shirt. Hair is charged with armed robbery, possession of weapon by a convicted felon and commercial burglary charges.

Washington County Chief Deputy Percy Miles said authorities are searching house to house and following up on all leads as of Sunday.

Miles said the two are considered dangerous, and that anyone who encounters them should call police.

"These are dangerous people. Stay away from them if you see them, don't approach them," he said. "Just call and let us know where they are."

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Mississippi Bureau of Investigations spokesman Warren Strain said MBI is assisting Washington County and federal partners in the search.

If you have knowledge of where these men may be, call the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 662-334-4523 or text TIP WASHCOUNTY to 888777.

Contact Therese Apel at 601-961-7236 or tapel@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.