2nd escaped inmate David Sweat shot by trooper in upstate New York

Credit: Handout

Credit: Handout


The second inmate who made a daring escape from a maximum-security New York is shot and in custody, according to reports.

David Sweat was shot by a trooper near Constable, New York, according to The Buffalo News. The capture ends a 23-day search that included more than 1,300 law enforcement agents, trained search dogs and helicopter teams.

Sweat was walking on the side of the road when he was spotted by a state police officer who recognized him. Sweat made off toward a tree line when Sgt. Jay Cook fired at him fearing he would lose the fugitive, according to the Associated Press.

Media outlets are reporting that Sweat is seriously wounded. Sweat, who did not have a weapon on him, was struck twice and is in stable condition. No law enforcement officials were injured.

Constable is north of Malone, where Richard Matt was shot Friday. His autospy results, released Sunday, indicate he was shot three times in the head and likely spent the past three weeks outdoors. Matt was shot about 40 miles west of the prison where they escaped.

The apprehension of Sweat comes a few hours after his DNA was found Sunday on a pepper shaker where Matt was shot.

According to The Associated Press, Matt and Sweat, 34, cut steam pipes with power tools to escape from Clinton Correctional Facility maximum-security prison late June 5 or early June 6. Officials discovered the men missing the morning of June 6.

Matt was serving 25 years to life for the 1997 kidnapping, dismembering and killing of his former boss. Sweat was serving a life sentence without parole for killing a sheriff's deputy in 2002.

Sweat will be charged with escape, burglary and other counts, according to the Associated Press.