Inmate Kills Texas Detention Officer in “Horrific” Attack

An Ellis County, Texas, detention officer was killed Monday afternoon in an attack by an inmate the sheriff describes as a "heinous, horrific, purposeful murder."

The Ellis County Sheriff's Office held a press conference on Tuesday to provide updates about the death of 28-year-old detention officer Isaiah Bias, who had been with the sheriff's office for six years, NBCDFW reports.

The sheriff's office said 45-year-old inmate Arron Semeion Thompson was being held on three charges of assaulting a public servant and evading arrest and was kept isolated in his cell for 23 hours a day with one hour of recreation time.

Sheriff Brad Norman said that as Bias directed Thompson back to his cell, he was viciously attacked by the inmate. Staff provided Bias with first aid until paramedics transported him to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Waxahachie, where he later died.

"It was a heinous, horrific, purposeful murder that was senseless and not needed," Norman said.