NY Prison Break: David Sweat Captured Near Canadian Border

David Sweat was caught by law enforcement officials on Sunday, June 28, after being shot twice, a few miles from the Canadian border.

David Sweat Captured

Sweat, 35, is currently in the hospital recovering from his gunshot wounds, marking a violent end to his brief life on the run. Sweat and fellow convicted killer, Richard Matt, escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility in upstate New York on June 5, and have been on the run ever since. On Friday, New York State police shot and killed Matt near Malone, New York, after the escaped convict failed to comply with the officers’ commands.

At the time, authorities had seen no sign of Sweat, but were confident that he was nearby. Authorities also stated that they believed Sweat and Matt had been on their way to Canada.

After a few more days of searching, Sweat was spotted near a barn in Constable, N.Y., a small town only 2 miles South of Canada. New York State Police Sgt. Jay Cook saw Sweat, and the two then engaged in a chase that ended when Cook drew fire as Sweat was on the verge of escape. Cook’s actions are, so far, being reported as completely justified and legal.

“At some point, running across a field, he realized that Sweat was going to make it to a tree line and possibly could have disappeared, and he fired two shots,” said New York State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico.

Sweat was recovered wearing a camouflage outfit and carrying a backpack filled with supplies. “He had maps, he had a certain amount of tools, he had bug repellent, he had wipes, he had Pop-Tarts,” said Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Authorities are now waiting for Sweat, who is currently in critical condition, to recover so that they can learn exactly how he and Matt planned and executed their escape from prison. Already two prison employees, Joyce Mitchell and Gene Palmer, have been arrested for connections to the escape, but authorities are still on the look out for more possible parties.

According to Cuomo, Sweat did tell investigators that he and Matt had planned on killing Mitchell’s husband, Lyle Mitchell, and having Joyce drive them to Mexico, but were forced to change their plans when Mitchell failed to follow through with the plan. Sweat allegedly left Matt five days ago, when Sweat said Matt was slowing him down.