Washington State Prison inmate killed after fight with officers at hospital
"Officers are put in these situations and have to make split-second decisions.”
SANDERSVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Two investigations are underway after an inmate from the Washington State prison was shot and killed. The incident happened Tuesday around 9:00 p.m. at the Washington County Regional Medical Center in Sandersville.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), 31-year-old Jacob Henson was being treated for stabbing injuries from an incident earlier that day at the Washington State Prison.
The GBI says while trying to escape from the hospital, Henson got into a fight with a Georgia Department of Corrections Officer and grabbed the officer’s pepper spray. They say he then started spraying the officer and approached a second officer. That officer fired her gun, striking Henson.
Multiple agencies, including the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the scene. Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran says based on the preliminary information, he believes proper action was taken.
“Officers are put in these situations and have to make split-second decisions,” the Sheriff said. “I’m sad that [you know] the incident ended up the way it did. It’s very tragic. And, you know, we will be praying for all the parties that were involved and affected by this incident.”
The Georgia Department of Corrections is investigating the stabbing at the prison, while the GBI is investigating the use of deadly force by the officer.
