An Ohio prison guard, Andrew Lansing, was brutally attacked and killed on Christmas morning by an inmate, according to authorities.
Lansing had chosen to work overtime at Ross Correctional Institution to allow his coworkers time off for the holiday... Continue reading here ▶
“Andy volunteered to work so others could have Christmas off. That’s why he was there,” said Annette Chambers-Smith, Director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, as reported by WKBN.
The inmate, Rashawn Cannon, was on the prison yard heading to the dining hall but veered off to where Lansing was stationed and attacked him.
Earlier in April, Lansing had filed a conduct report against Cannon for disrespect, threats, and disobedience. Cannon was found guilty of two of those charges, but officials are still investigating the motive for the deadly attack.
“Officer Lansing was a respected and well-loved member of the Ross Correctional Institution team,” Chambers-Smith said in a statement. “He was known for being friendly, professional, and supportive of his colleagues.
His death on Christmas Day is a tragic loss for his family, coworkers, and our agency. Instead of returning home to his family after his shift, Lansing made the ultimate sacrifice, and we are heartbroken.”
Cannon, 27, has a history of violent crimes dating back to age 15, including robbing his uncle at gunpoint at 18. While seeking early release in 2020, he admitted that acting impulsively was his downfall.
After being released on probation, he was sent back to prison in 2023 for a pistol-whipping incident where he severely injured a woman, breaking her nose, loosening her teeth, and splitting her lip. He was serving a sentence set to end in 2030 before now being charged with aggravated murder.
Lansing’s death has heightened tensions between the state prison system and the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA). The union’s president, Christopher Mabe, called on Governor Mike DeWine to place Chambers-Smith on administrative leave during the investigation.
Mabe said staffing shortages, which existed even before the COVID-19 pandemic, contributed to unsafe conditions. He stated that the prison was short by about 40 officers on Christmas and called for higher pay to attract more staff.
Chambers-Smith responded, saying all required posts were filled on the day of Lansing’s death, despite an 11% vacancy rate for guard positions. She added that the vacancies were partly due to new roles for death row and security staff, but new hires were scheduled to start soon.
