David Sweat and fellow 'Shawshank' jail escapee were headed for Mexico killer tells police

For three weeks, escaped convicted killers David Sweat and Richard Matt evaded the authorities's attempt to recapture them. The prolonged manhunt ended on 28 June, when Sweat was shot and captured by police two days after his accomplice had been shot and killed.

Thirty-five-year-old Sweat was captured and shot by Sergeant Jay Cook as he was jogging along a street in Constable, New York, Newsweek reported. Sweat refused to answer Cook when the officer exited his car and began to run away.

According to New York Police Superintendent Joseph D'Amico, Cook began to chase Sweat and fired two shots from his service weapon, a handgun, before Sweat could disappear into the woods. Sweat was hit twice in the torso, police said.

New York Governor Andrew told CNN that when he was found by police, Sweat "had a bag with him that had a number of supplies". These included maps, tools, insect repellent and Pop-Tarts, the governor told reporters.

The convicted killer is being treated at Albany Medical Center, where hospital officials upgraded his status from critical to serious, Reuters reported. The hospital announced Sweat would not need surgery but would remain at the hospital "for at least a few days while his condition stablises".

Cuomo told reporters on 29 June that Sweat had "relayed some information" to investigators about his plot to escape prison with the help of prison worker Joyce Mitchell.

"They would kill Mitchell's husband and then get in the car and drive to Mexico, on the theory that Mitchell was in love with one or both of them," Cuomo said on Albany public radio show Capitol Pressroom.

According to the New York Times, when Mitchell backed out of their plan, the two men decided to head north towards Canada. Cuomo revealed that Sweat and his 49-year-old accomplice parted ways five days prior. "Sweat felt that Matt was slowing him down, as a matter of fact," the governor stated.

Matt was shot and killed by a federal agent on 26 June.

Sweat and Matt were found missing from their maximum-security cells at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, New York on 6 June. Two prison employees, Mitchell and corrections officer Gene Palmer have been arrested for helping the pair escape.