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The inmate had been taken to an orthopedics office in Murphy for
undisclosed treatment when a scuffle began. The inmate took the
officer's weapon and shot him, Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin
Smith said at a news conference. The inmate ran into the parking
lot, jumped into a vehicle that had just arrived and took off.
The inmate was later apprehended in Macon County, nearly an hour
to the east, Smith said.
Smith said the inmate, Kelvin Simmons, 48, will be charged with
first-degree murder.
The detention officer was identified as Francisco Paul Flattes,
56, a four-year employee of the Cherokee County Sheriff's
Office. Smith said Flattes' wife also works for the county
detention center.
Another officer suffered injuries unrelated to the shooting and
was recovering, the sheriff said.
“This has been probably one of the worst days of my career,”
Smith said.
Emergency personnel in Clay County had alerted Macon County
deputies that the inmate was driving to their county on U.S.
Route 64, authorities said. Simmons' vehicle was stopped and he
was detained after a short standoff. There were no injuries at
the scene.
Smith said Simmons was already being held on bank robbery
charges along with an October 2024 escape.
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