Ohio deputies searching for 2 escaped prisoners considered 'armed and dangerous'

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Deputies in Ohio are searching for two people who escaped from the Allen Correctional Institution, with one of the escaped inmates being previously convicted of murder.

The Williams County Sheriff's Office wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday that a convicted murderer and one of his fellow inmates escaped from the prison in Lima.

Officials say Brad Gillespie, 50, who was previously convicted of murder, and James Lee, 46, who was convicted of burglary, breaking and entering and safecracking, escaped the facility.

The sheriff's office said in a Facebook post that the men are considered "armed and dangerous" and encouraged residents to "call law enforcement immediately" if they spot the escaped inmates.

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Brad Gillespie (Williams County Sheriff's Office)

Gillespie is 6 feet tall and weighs 200 pounds; James Lee is 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 280 pounds.

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James Lee (Williams County Sheriff's Office)

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into their escape.

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Authorities say Brad Gillespie, left, and James Lee escaped Allen Correctional Institution in Lima, Ohio. (Williams County Sheriff's Office)

"Officials at the prison are working closely with local law enforcement on searching for and apprehending these individuals," the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction said in a statement.