Two youth offenders on the run after allegedly threatening staff at youth prison with firearm

Two teenagers — including a boy regarded as one of the worst youth offenders — are on the run after the pair allegedly threatened jail staff with a gun on Wednesday.

Two teens allegedly threatened jail staff with a gun at Parkville Youth Justice Precinct. Picture: David Smith

Police are hunting two notorious teenage offenders accused of threatening jail staff with a gun outside a youth prison in broad daylight on Wednesday.

The Herald Sun has been told the pair waved the weapon in front of correctional staff while driving past the Parkville Youth Justice Centre about 12pm.

They were seen cruising past the facility and driving up and down Park St in what appeared to be a red Toyota sports car.

It is believed that Toyota had previously been stolen.

Jail staff called police, but the young offenders fled before officers arrived.

Investigators from the Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit spent Wednesday afternoon collecting witness statements from on-duty guards after the brazen display.

Police are hunting two notorious teenage offenders accused of threatening jail staff with a gun outside Parkville Youth Justice Centre. Picture : George Salpigtidis

It is understood the pair are frequent inmates at the city’s youth jail but are enjoying a brief period of freedom.

One of the pair, who cannot legally be named, is widely regarded as one of Victoria’s worst repeat youth offenders.

“Revolving door inmates,” one prison insider said.

“Adult prison awaits.”

The incident comes after a group of young inmates at the correctional centre went on a rampage last month, assaulting guards and swiping their access cards on multiple nights in one week.

In one of those assaults, a prisoner allegedly threatened staff with a fire extinguisher.

In October, two inmates held a female prison guard captive and held a shiv to her throat.

A Department of Justice and Community Safety spokeswoman said no staff were injured during the incident.“Youth Justice staff responded by following strict security measures,” she said.

A Victoria Police spokesman said investigations into the incident were ongoing.