Officers were shot and killed by prisoners during medical visits: Sheriff

A North Carolina detention officer was fatal was shot during a “fight” at a medical facility after a federal prisoner who had been brought to the facility for treatment that succeeded in winning his weapon, the authorities said.

The inmate was arrested after escaping by stolen vehicle and now faced the murder indictment, according to Sheriff County Cherokee Dustin Smith.

“This might be one of the worst days in my career,” Smith said during a press briefing Monday night. “This is a difficult day for law enforcement for Cherokee County.”

Prisoners-who were identified as Kelvin Simmons who were 48 years old were transported to medical facilities for orthopedic treatment after he complained of foot pain, according to Smith.

Two detention officers escorted Simmons – a high protocol after the previous inmates tried to escape from the Cherokee District Detention Center last year, Smith said.

One of the 56 -year -old officers, Francisco Flattes, was shot at medical facilities, said Sheriff.

“There was a fight, and that’s when officers’ weapons were taken from him,” Smith said.

Flattes was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead. Another officer, George Feinauer, was injured during the incident but was expected to recover, said Smith.

Simmons were then accused of piracy of vehicles from someone who was in medical facilities and escaped from the scene. He was then arrested at Macon County, North Carolina. There is no one else in the vehicle. He was transported to a hospital in the area after complaining of foot pain, said Sheriff.

Simmons is a federal prisoner who is placed in Cherokee County on charge of bank robbery, according to Smith. Online notes show that he pleaded guilty to bank robberies by force or violence and theft of motorized vehicles in 2023 but had not been convicted.

Simmons also faced an escape indictment after trying to get out of the Cherokee Regency detention center in October 2024 by climbing a fence, according to Smith.

He will be charged with a first -level murder in the death of Flattes, according to a local district lawyer, Ashley Hornsby Welch.

“We anticipate that more accusations will come,” he told Briefing. “We have also been in contact with the United States lawyer’s office, and I believe that accusations also come from them.”

Flattes has been with the Sheriff office for four years, said Smith. Istrinya juga bekerja untuk Pusat Penahanan Kabupaten Cherokee dan menantunya bekerja untuk kantor sheriff.

“I only ask you to pray for our office, for the Flattes family,” Smith said.