It truly was mayhem in the mountains Monday, as an inmate shot and killed a Western North Carolina jail officer while escaping. Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith held a press conference Monday evening in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Smith says Kelvin Simmons a federal inmate being housed in Cherokee County was taken to Erlanger Orthopedics in Murphy for a specialty appointment.
While there, Simmons got into a scuffle with one of the jail officers escorting him and took his gun. Simmons then shot the officer with his own gun. The officer identified as 56 year old, Francisco Flattez died from his injuries.
Simmons then reportedly carjacked someone in the hospital parking lot. Simmons then led Deputies, State Troopers and U.S. Marshals on a chase. He was then stopped in Macon County, NC and was taken into custody after a brief standoff.
Simmons was being held on charges of bank robbery and escape. He had escaped from custody in Cherokee County, in October of last year before being apprehended. Smith says a 2nd jail officer also was escorting Simmons to the appointment.
Simmons is charged with 1st degree murder after Monday's incident. Additional federal and local charges are expected.
