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A convicted murderer who broke out of prison by “crab-walking” over the walls has been caught after a nearly two-week-long manhunt.

Danelo Cavalcante broke out of Chester County Prison in Pennsylvania on 31 August.

CCTV showed the 34-year-old stretching himself between a pair of parallel walls from the prison’s recreation yard in order to climb them.

He then crossed over razor wire and ran across a roof, making it undetected past a prison guard in a rooftop watchtower to complete his escape.

Danelo Cavalcante. Pic: US Marshals Service Philadelphia
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Danelo Cavalcante. Pic: US Marshals Service Philadelphia

His escape went undetected for more than an hour until guards took a head count.

Hundreds of state and local police along with federal agents were involved in the search for Cavalcante.

On Wednesday, a law enforcement source told NBC News that the convicted killer had been caught.

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“I’m proud to announce the subject is in custody. Repeating, subject is in custody,” a Chester County official announced in a broadcast radio call on Wednesday morning.

His capture comes a day after police set up a fortified perimeter following sightings of Cavalcante in the South Coventry Township area on Monday evening.

Law enforcement officers gather as they search for escaped convict Danelo Cavalcante in Glenmoore, Pa., Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Law enforcement officers involved in the search for Cavalcante. Pic: AP

US authorities said he was shot at by a homeowner who found him in his garage stealing a rifle.

Cavalcante was convicted on 16 August of the murder of a 33-year-old former girlfriend.

He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the stabbing.

Danelo Cavalcante before his escape. Pic: Chester County District Attorney
Image:
Danelo Cavalcante before his escape. Pic: Chester County District Attorney

Cavalcante is also wanted in his native Brazil, where he is accused of “double qualified homicide” in the 2017 killing of Valter Junior Moreira dos Reis in the municipality of Figueiropolis, over a debt the victim owed him for repairing a vehicle.

He was being held in Chester County Prison while awaiting transfer to a state prison to serve his life sentence.

A county spokesperson said an 18-year veteran guard who missed spotting Cavalcante’s escape has since been fired.

The guard, who has not been identified, had a cellphone in the tower, a violation of Chester County Prison policy, according to the county representative.

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Hollywood writers reach ‘tentative’ deal to end strike over AI and compensation

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Hollywood writers reach 'tentative' deal to end strike over AI and compensation

A “tentative” deal has been reached to end a long-running strike by writers in Hollywood.

A statement from the WGA (Writers Guild of America) said: “We have reached a tentative agreement on a new 2023 MBA, which is to say an agreement in principle on all deal points, subject to drafting final contract language.

“We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional-with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership.”

The three-year contract agreement – settled on after five days of renewed talks by negotiators WGA and the AMPTP – must be approved by the guild’s board and members before the strike officially ends.

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The terms of the deal were not immediately announced.

The statement added: “To be clear, no one is to return to work until specifically authorized to by the Guild.

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“We are still on strike until then. But we are, as of today, suspending WGA picketing. Instead, if you are able, we encourage you to join the SAG-AFTRA picket lines this week.”

The agreement comes just five days before the strike would have become the longest in the guild’s history, and the longest Hollywood strike in decades.

About 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America walked off the job on 2 May over issues of pay, the size of writing staffs on shows and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the creation of scripts.

SAG-AFTRA actors during their ongoing strike, in Los Angeles (file pic)
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SAG-AFTRA actors during their ongoing strike, in Los Angeles (file pic)

In July, the SAG-AFTRA actors’ union started its own walkout which is yet to be resolved.

It said in a statement: “SAG-AFTRA congratulates the WGA on reaching a tentative agreement with the AMPTP after 146 days of incredible strength, resiliency and solidarity on the picket lines.

While we look forward to reviewing the WGA and AMPTP’s tentative agreement, we remain committed to achieving the necessary terms for our members.

“We remain on strike in our TV/Theatrical contract and continue to urge the studio and streamer CEOs and the AMPTP to return to the table and make the fair deal that our members deserve and demand.”

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Toddler and two adults shot dead in Jacksonville during row over dog sale, police say

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Toddler and two adults shot dead in Jacksonville during row over dog sale, police say

A three-year-old child and two adults were fatally shot during an argument over an apparent dog sale in Florida, according to police.

Five people – including the toddler – had gone to a luxury apartment complex at around 10pm on Saturday to meet with some people about the sale of a dog, said Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Assistant Chief JD Stronko.

Gunfire broke out during an argument, with three victims were fatally hit and a third adult wounded.

Two men fled in a car, witnesses told police.

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Mr Stronko said the two adults killed and the one wounded were all in their 20s. Their names have not yet been released.

No further details were given about the condition of the wounded victim.

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Migrant surge at US border pushes Texas city to ‘breaking point’

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Migrant surge at US border pushes Texas city to 'breaking point'

A sharp rise in migrants crossing the US border from Mexico has pushed a Texas city to “breaking point”, its mayor has warned.

With more than 2,000 people a day seeking asylum, services in El Paso have been overwhelmed, leaving the authorities struggling to cope.

The influx has also hit the Texas border city of Eagle Pass, where more than 8,000 migrants arrived this week, leading authorities to declare an emergency.

Pic: AP
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There has been a surge in arrivals at the US border. Pic: AP

After a dip in illegal crossings following new asylum restrictions in May, the large number of recent arrivals has sparked a fresh wave of political attacks on US President Joe Biden ahead of the 2024 election.

It comes as Britain’s Home Secretary Suella Braverman questioned whether international migration rules designed more than a century ago are “fit for purpose ahead of a major speech in the US.

The UK has been dealling with its own migrant issues, with people crossing in small boats from France, while southern Italy has also seen arrivals from North Africa.

While just six weeks ago, about 350 to 400 people were crossing into El Paso per day, this has recently surged to 2,000 or more.

Mayor Oscar Leeser told a news conference: “The city of El Paso only has so many resources and we have come to… a breaking point right now.”

He has chartered buses to take migrants to New York, Chicago and Denver.

Republican governors in Texas and Florida have been criticised for sending migrants to cities seen as liberal, such as New York and Sacramento.

But Mr Leeser, a Democrat, said all of the migrants on the El Paso buses were going voluntarily to the cities of their choice.

He said: “I think it’s really important to note that we have a broken immigration system.

“It’s the same thing over and over again.”

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In August, border patrol officers made 181,509 arrests on the Mexican frontier, up 37% from July, according to latest figures.

People in families with children fuelled the increase, with 93,999 arrests – the highest on record – up from 60,454 in July and 31,487 in June.

Troy Miller, acting US Customs and Border Protection chief, said: “Our operational tempo along the border has increased in response to increased encounters, and we remain squarely focused on our broader security mission and enforcing US immigration laws.”

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