Prisoner Accused of Fatally Shooting Guard with Guard’s Gun at Clinic

This week, a federal inmate ignited a tragic and chaotic sequence of events by seizing a gun from a jail officer, fatally shooting him, commandeering a nearby vehicle, and inciting a multi-county police pursuit, according to authorities.

Authorities reported that Kelvin Simmons, age 48, was escorted to an orthopedic clinic in Cherokee County, North Carolina, on Monday by detention officers Francisco Flattes and George Fienauer for medical treatment of an undisclosed nature.

During the visit, Simmons managed to “overpower” the officers, capturing Flattes’ firearm, and ultimately shot him with it, stated Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith.

“After the shooting, Simmons fled into the clinic parking lot and commandeered a vehicle that had just arrived on the scene,” the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office announced.

The defendant then led deputies and the North Carolina Highway Patrol on a long chase east through Clay County into Macon County, where he was eventually stopped about an hour away, according to law enforcement.

“Following a brief standoff, Simmons was taken into custody by Macon County Sheriff’s Office,” the sheriff’s office said.

Flattes, 56, died from his wounds. Smith said Simmons will be charged with first-degree murder. Fienauer, the other officer, reportedly sustained injuries in the altercation, too, but not from gunshots.

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“This is the hardest day of my career, we are all mourning the loss of Francisco and doing everything we can to support each other and the family and loved ones of Officer Flattes,” Smith added.

Simmons was already in jail on bank robbery charges, the sheriff noted, adding the suspect was also awaiting charges for a previous escape attempt last October. Further charges in addition to first-degree murder are expected to be filed soon.

A 911 call at the time of the “violent altercation” on Monday provides some insight into what happened.

An unidentified caller at the medical facility told the 911 operator in a roughly six-minute call that a patient had a gun, according to Asheville-based ABC affiliate WLOS.

“He’s shooting off in the lobby?” the operator asked, to which the caller replied in the affirmative.

“He’s got a hostage!” the caller added a short time after, reportedly identifying Simmons as the patient wearing a gray jumpsuit.

When Simmons allegedly escaped from the building, the caller said he appeared to be approaching a vehicle.

“He’s robbing her!” the caller exclaimed. “He’s getting in a Chevy — a black Chevy car.”