VA Murder Suspect Still At Large A Month After Escaping DC Police

WASHINGTON, DC — A month after escaping police custody while at a Washington, D.C. hospital, a suspected killer remains on the loose and authorities have provided few updates on the search.

Police said Christopher Haynes, 30, assaulted an officer and escaped from The George Washington University Hospital while in custody on Sept. 7. He was arrested the same day in Manassas, Virginia, in connection with the Aug. 12 murder of Brent Hayward.

Police immediately launched a search for Haynes, shutting down streets and locking down the GWU campus. More than 30 days later, Haynes remains on the loose.

When contacted by Patch, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police Department referred the reporter to an update that came three weeks ago at the end of an unrelated news conference.

During the news conference, Assistant D.C. Police Chief Carlos Heraud said investigators “get information daily that we’re following up on.” He described the search as “very active” and said city police were receiving assistance from the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Police said that while Haynes was being processed, he complained of ankle pain from a pre-existing injury. According to authorities, an officer took Haynes to The George Washington University Hospital for treatment. A second officer was also assigned to accompany Haynes, police said.

Shortly before 3:40 p.m., police said that while an officer attempted to cuff Haynes’ hand to a gurney, Haynes assaulted the officer and fled the hospital with one handcuff still attached to his right wrist. According to police, both officers chased Haynes but were unable to catch him.

The escape prompted a multi-agency search for Haynes, according to police. Despite numerous tips and sightings, police said Haynes was not located.

During the investigation, police were able to locate footage captured by a home security camera of Haynes in a backyard in a neighborhood near the hospital.

Authorities are offering a $30,000 reward for information leading to Haynes’ capture.

Police have said they believe Haynes is "not out there surviving on his own.”

"Anybody that we identify that’s assisted him in aiding and abetting us, fleeing from the area or harboring him, any charges that we can put on them, we will, because we know he’s not doing it on his own," Heraud said.

According to police, Haynes is a Black man who is about 6 feet tall and weighs about 205 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes with shoulder-length dreadlocks and a Washington Nationals tattoo on his neck. He was last seen wearing a black shirt, gray shorts and white socks with black handcuffs hanging from his right wrist.

Anyone with information on Haynes’ whereabouts should contact police at 202-727-9099. Anonymous tips can be submitted to the department’s text tip line by sending a message to 50411.