A shocking and deadly escape attempt turned a routine medical visit into a nightmare in North Carolina this week, leaving one detention officer dead and launching a multi-county manhunt.
Kelvin Simmons, a 48-year-old federal inmate, was being escorted to an orthopedic clinic in Cherokee County by detention officers Francisco Flattes and George Fienauer on Monday when he suddenly overpowered them. According to Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith, Simmons managed to grab Flattes’ gun and fatally shot him before making a break for the parking lot.
There, Simmons hijacked a vehicle that had just arrived at the clinic and sped away, setting off a high-speed chase through multiple counties. Deputies and the North Carolina Highway Patrol pursued the fleeing inmate for nearly an hour until he was cornered in Macon County. After a tense standoff, Simmons was taken into custody.
Officer Flattes, 56, succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Officer Fienauer was also hurt during the struggle, though he was not shot. Sheriff Smith described the day as the most difficult of his career and vowed to support Flattes’ family and colleagues.
“This is the hardest day of my career,” he said. “We are all mourning the loss of Francisco and doing everything we can to support each other and the family.”
Simmons had already been in custody on federal bank robbery charges and was awaiting trial for a previous escape attempt last October. He is now expected to face additional charges, including first-degree murder.
Disturbing 911 audio from the incident reveals the chaos inside the clinic. A caller can be heard telling dispatch, “He’s shooting off in the lobby!” Moments later, the voice frantically adds, “He’s got a hostage! He’s robbing her! He’s getting in a black Chevy!”
Officer Flattes leaves behind a wife, who also works for the sheriff’s department, as well as children and grandchildren. The close-knit community of Cherokee County, with a population of around 30,000, is reeling from the loss.
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Author: thedailycrime1
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