DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Three inmates, including a murder suspect, escaped from DeKalb County Jail early Monday morning.

The sheriff’s office said the escape was discovered “during a routine security check, which revealed the inmates missing.”

The jail’s entrance and exit were closed off as of 6 a.m., with deputies surrounding the perimeter of the facility. DeKalb police, the sheriff’s office and the U.S. Marshals Service are searching for the missing inmates.

The three fugitives have been identified as:

• Stevenson Charles, 24 - Murder and armed robbery
• Yusuf Minor, 31 - Two counts of armed robbery and two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony
• Naod Yohannes, 25 - Simple assault, arson and unlawful acts of violence in a penal institution.

Authorities say the fugitives may be armed and are considered dangerous. The sheriff’s office is urging the public to “exercise extreme caution” and not approach them.

“We take this breach very seriously and are working diligently to ensure these individuals are safely returned to custody as quickly as possible,” Sheriff Melody M. Maddox said.

The U.S. Marshals Service says Charles has committed a number of serious crimes. He is serving a life sentence. They said that he has been charged with, or convicted of, murder, aggravated assault, weapons violations, sodomy on a person less than ten years old, kidnapping, carjacking, armed robbery, and probation violations.

Charles is described as 5-foot 7-inches and around 200 pounds. They say he has close ties to the Atlanta and metro Miami areas.

“Let the message go out to Mr. Charles and all other fugitives. We are looking for and we will find you. Any person who violates the laws of the United States will not be allowed a moment of rest. You will never find peace,” said Thomas E. Brown, the U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Georgia. “You will answer for your crimes.”

Anyone with information about the escaped inmates’ whereabouts is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Tip Line at 404-298-8200.

This is a developing story. Return to Atlanta News First for updates.

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