STORM2K

Inmate Killed After Allegedly Shooting Officer During Courthouse Struggle

POSTED: 11:00 am EDT July 12, 2006
UPDATED: 1:24 pm EDT July 12, 2006

JACKSON, N.C. -- An inmate with a history of violence in courtrooms was shot and killed by authorities after he allegedly took a gun from an officer in a courtroom and shot him, authorities said.

The inmate was identified as Willie Forrest, 37, who was serving 56 years in prison for an attempted murder conviction in 2003, officials said.

The shooting happened about 9:25 a.m. on Wednesday inside the Northampton County Courthouse when Forrest was being transferred to Raleigh.

During the transfer, Forrest, who was fully restrained, somehow took a correctional officer's gun and shot the officer in the shoulder, authorities said.

During a struggle with a second officer, Forrest fired another shot into the air, said Jane Carroll with the Northampton County Sheriff's Office.

A Northampton County deputy got involved and shot and killed Forrest, Carroll said.

A total of six shots were fired, officials said.

The officer who was shot was treated at an area hospital and released, authorities said.

Forrest attacked his attorney in a courtroom in 2003 just after a jury found him guilty of kidnapping and assault.

Forrest assaulted George Hughes in a Wake County courtroom in January 2003 before five sheriff's deputies pulled him off Hughes.

Hughes, 55, suffered a skull fracture, a broken right cheekbone and bruises around his left eye. He also needed a few stitches around one eye and his left ear.

Forrest, of Raleigh, had been on trial for three felony charges related to an Oct. 9, 2002 incident in which he was charged with holding his aunt at knifepoint, said Assistant District Attorney Ned Mangum.

In addition to first-degree kidnapping, Forrest also was charged with two other felonies -- assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious bodily injury with intent to kill and assault on a law enforcement officer inflicting serious injury.

The jury convicted him of kidnapping and two lesser assault charges.

http://www.wral.com/news/9504300/detail.html

When I lived in Roanoke Rapids, NC I passed through Jackson every now and then. Have a couple friends who live there in Jackson, too.

Skywatch_NC wrote:Inmate Killed After Allegedly Shooting Officer During Courthouse Struggle

POSTED: 11:00 am EDT July 12, 2006
UPDATED: 1:24 pm EDT July 12, 2006

JACKSON, N.C. -- An inmate with a history of violence in courtrooms was shot and killed by authorities after he allegedly took a gun from an officer in a courtroom and shot him, authorities said.

The inmate was identified as Willie Forrest, 37, who was serving 56 years in prison for an attempted murder conviction in 2003, officials said.

The shooting happened about 9:25 a.m. on Wednesday inside the Northampton County Courthouse when Forrest was being transferred to Raleigh.

During the transfer, Forrest, who was fully restrained, somehow took a correctional officer's gun and shot the officer in the shoulder, authorities said.

During a struggle with a second officer, Forrest fired another shot into the air, said Jane Carroll with the Northampton County Sheriff's Office.

A Northampton County deputy got involved and shot and killed Forrest, Carroll said.

A total of six shots were fired, officials said.

The officer who was shot was treated at an area hospital and released, authorities said.

Forrest attacked his attorney in a courtroom in 2003 just after a jury found him guilty of kidnapping and assault.

Forrest assaulted George Hughes in a Wake County courtroom in January 2003 before five sheriff's deputies pulled him off Hughes.

Hughes, 55, suffered a skull fracture, a broken right cheekbone and bruises around his left eye. He also needed a few stitches around one eye and his left ear.

Forrest, of Raleigh, had been on trial for three felony charges related to an Oct. 9, 2002 incident in which he was charged with holding his aunt at knifepoint, said Assistant District Attorney Ned Mangum.

In addition to first-degree kidnapping, Forrest also was charged with two other felonies -- assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious bodily injury with intent to kill and assault on a law enforcement officer inflicting serious injury.

The jury convicted him of kidnapping and two lesser assault charges.

http://www.wral.com/news/9504300/detail.html

If he was "fully restrained", which means handcuffs, leg irons, and a waist chain, he could not have taken the officers weapon. Either the restraints were not propertly applied, or perhaps there was no waist chain and he was cuffed up front. That would have made it possible for him to take the officers weapon.

He must have had his hands cuffed in the front leaving his hands a little vulnerable to grab the gun.

Janice wrote:He must have had his hands cuffed in the front leaving his hands a little vulnerable to grab the gun.

With a waist chain though the cuffs are threaded thru the chain greatly limiting mobility. Im only guessing what happened Janice. ts pretty much SOP now that all inmates being transported be fully restrained no matter what the offense they are incarcerated for is. And arrestees are always cuffed BEHIND THE BACK no matter what the offense. Its a tad uncomfortable but it doesnt hurt them.

Yes. I hope they give a better description of exactly how he got the gun.