Sources close to law enforcement in New York State have confirmed that police have tracked down and killed one of the murderous prison escapees in what turned out to be the most successful prison break in U.S. history.
Richard Matt, pictured above on the right, one of two escaped murderers from an upstate New York maximum-security prison, was shot and killed by officers after an exchange of gunfire in the city of Malone after a massive three-week manhunt.Â
Matt’s fugitive partner, David Sweat, pictured above on the left, also serving time for murder, remains at large, police sources explained to CNN.Â
“Matt has been shot, he’s down,” Lenny DePaul, a former U.S. Marshal told CNN. DePaul said he believes the shooting occurred in Malone, New York, but had no confirmation. “They stuck together,” he said.”They needed each other.”
Matt reportedly shot the driver of a camper near Malone, N.Y., about 40 miles west of the prison from which they sprung themselves with the aid of prison employees. When the driver called 911, officers arrived, gunfire erupted and Matt was shot dead.
The shooting occurred on a day the New York State Police reported that Matt and Sweat might have been headed to Canada.
There were indications that investigators were closing in on the pair and that they never left Upstate New York. Forensics experts were conducting DNA tests on potential new evidence, a source close to the investigation said.
A reported burglary led police to a cabin on Thursday in Malone.Â
Evidence found in the cabin was being tested, he added. At the time, the fugitives had not been seen, but “we’re certain that the evidence is conclusive,” State Police Maj. Charles Guess said Friday at a news conference.
More than 1,100 law enforcement officers have been pursuing new leads with a “high degree of confidence,” Guess said.
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