Officer Robert Clark, aged 42, was accompanying two inmates from the dining hall at Smith State Prison when one of them, identified as Layton Lester, reportedly assaulted him from behind using a makeshift weapon, according to a statement from the Georgia Department of Corrections.
The other inmate, Marko Willingham, attempted to come to Clark's aid, but Lester also assaulted him during the incident.
Both Clark and Willingham were taken to local hospitals for medical treatment. Tragically, Clark succumbed to his injuries, while Willingham remains in the hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening.
Commissioner Tyrone Oliver expressed condolences on behalf of the Georgia Department of Corrections, acknowledging the loss and offering support to Clark's family and friends during this difficult time. Clark had started working at Smith State Prison in April, according to GDC records.
Lester is now facing additional charges related to Clark's death and the assault on Willingham. He had already been serving a life sentence for a murder conviction stemming from a fatal armed robbery in 2007, as indicated by jail records.
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp also extended his condolences to Clark's family and the GDC following the officer's tragic passing, urging the community to keep them in their thoughts and prayers.
A man who served time in a well-known murder-for-hire case in Ohio nearly two decades ago has been found guilty of shooting a state trooper in a western Pennsylvania convenience store last year. See detailed story here
Comments
Post a Comment