Chillicothe, Ohio – A corrections officer died after an inmate assault at an Ohio prison on Christmas morning, authorities said Wednesday.
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The Ohio Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said corrections officer Andrew Lansing died “following an assault on an inmate” that morning at Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe.
“Losing a member of staff is difficult, but to lose a family member on Christmas Day at the hands of someone in our care is a tragedy beyond comprehension,” Department Director Annette Chambers-Smith . he said in a statement.
“Instead of going home after his shift to be with his family this holiday, Officer Lansing made the ultimate sacrifice and our agency will never be the same,” Chambers-Smith said.
No details about the alleged assault or the inmate were immediately released. The jail was said to be “operating with restricted movement” and the Ohio State Highway Patrol was investigating.
“The suspect inmate has been transferred to the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility,” the department said.
Lansing was described as “a well-respected, long-time employee” at the prison who was “liked by his colleagues.”
“He was a kind and outgoing officer who treated everyone with respect and was always professional,” the department said.