OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) -- A 15-year-old boy is wanted by authorities after escaping from the St. Landry Parish Jail.

Dereon Damarae Freeman, 15, of Eunice escaped from the jail at approximately 8:15 p.m. Saturday, authorities said. His last known direction of travel was west towards the Eunice area.

Freeman is wanted for two counts of attempted homicide and should be considered dangerous, according to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office.

He is described as a Black male, 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing 120 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. Law enforcement urges the public to be alert and call 911 if he is seen.

Officials said the Freeman was held at the jail due to the court ordering him to stay there because the juvenile facility did not have enough beds.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz spoke with News 10 about the escape.

"Three juvenile inmates overpowered one of our guards and escaped with his car keys and were
able to start his car and take off and headed toward Eunice," said Guidroz. "We were able to catch them in Eunice. One escaped and the other two were arrested in Eunice.
Some a hour later."

Guidroz said they guard was initially called to the cell to address a problem reported by the inmates.

"He was in a cell and he called for the jail to come and see about an issue he had in the cell with
it, with the toilet and that's when he was jumped," said Guidroz.

Authorities said moving forward they will be looking at their protocols to make sure they were followed and see for areas of improvement to make sure this does not happen again.

Anyone with information on the location of Dereon Freeman is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 948-TIPS (8477), dial **TIPS (**8477) on your mobile device, or tip online at stlandrycrimestoppers.com. All calls are anonymous and you could earn up to a $1,000 cash reward. Download the free P3 app on your mobile device and “Say it Here” to submit your anonymous tips.

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