JEFFERSON PARISH, La. — UPDATE: According to WWL Louisiana's media partner Nola.com, 52-year-old Shelita Ruffins, the wife of captured murder suspect Leon Ruffins, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly aiding her husband during his weekend escape.
WWL Louisiana has confirmed that the manhunt for an escaped murder suspect ended on Tuesday afternoon.
Police said 51-year-old Leon Ruffin was arrested in the 12000 block of the I-10 Service Road near Bullard Avenue.
"Mission accomplished," Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joseph Lopinto told media during a briefing that began at 3:30 p.m. "We were able to track Mr. Ruffin down to a hotel in New Orleans East with the assistance of the NOPD's Violent Offenders Squad, along with the U.S. Marshals Service. They surrounded that location, and around 2:30 today he was taken into custody without incident."
Sheriff Lopinto said they believe Ruffin spent the last few days inside of the hotel room. Lopinto said depending on what deputies find inside the room, will determine if he will face charges in Orleans Parish.
Several law enforcement agencies are involved in the search for Ruffin.
Lopinto expects more arrests are forthcoming for anyone who may have aided and abetted Ruffin during an approximate 36 hours at large.
"There will be multiple arrests," the sheriff stated. "I don't know exactly how many. We're going to follow up on all of those. But anybody that had contact over the last few days that, you know, did anything in furtherance of his escape, we certainly will make those arrests."
The Sheriff's Office said Leon Ruffin was set to be transported from Ochsner's Meadowcrest facility back to the parish correctional center Sunday when he was able to create a disturbance to distract the deputy.
Lopinto said he faked that his medical boot was causing him pain.
"She acted like a human being... She treated someone with compassion who didn't deserve it," said Lopinto.
The sheriff said Ruffin then pepper sprayed her and drove off in her vehicle. Lopinto said the deputy fired shots at Ruffin as he drove off. Her abandoned unit was found in Algiers late Sunday night.
"The deputy is fine," said Lopinto.
Ruffin was considered "armed and dangerous" with "nothing to lose." Lopinto said he believed Ruffin had faked his injuries but allegedly had "some type of seizure" on Sunday that required him to be taken to the medical center.
Deputies said Ruffin had been in custody since last July for counts of second-degree murder, aggravated assault, a convicted felon with a firearm, and obstruction of justice.
Watch Sheriff Lopinto's complete media briefing confirming the capture of Ruffins in the video below:
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