UNC Hospitals Hillsborough (N.C.) was on lockdown for a short period on the morning of Aug. 13 after a prisoner escaped custody upon arriving at the medical facility for care.
A search remains underway for Ramone Alston, 30, who is serving a life sentence for a first-degree murder conviction in 2018, according to the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections. Authorities said he escaped from custody around 7 a.m. when the transport van arrived at UNC Gastroenterology. He jumped out of the van and fled the hospital campus after freeing himself from leg restraints. He was still in handcuffs, authorities said.
In a statement to Becker's, a spokesperson for UNC Hospitals confirmed the lockdown was lifted around 8:30 a.m., after police at the hospital and law enforcement increased security on the campus.
"The safety of our teammates, patients and visitors is the top priority for us. We are grateful for our law enforcement partners' rapid response," UNC Hospitals said in a statement.
Last summer, Becker's reported on at leave five instances within a two-month period of individuals in custody evading authorities and escaping while either receiving treatment at or being transported to hospitals. Experts have said prisoners typically plan such attempts far in advance.