Correctional Officer Murdered on Christmas Day Filling in For Others

An Ohio prison inmate, serving time for a violent assault on a woman, is now accused of fatally attacking a correctional officer on Christmas Day. The officer, Andrew Lansing, had chosen to work overtime at Ross Correctional Institution, allowing his colleagues to spend the holiday with their families.

Annette Chambers-Smith, Director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, revealed that the inmate, Rashawn Cannon, had been released from his unit to go to the dining hall. Instead, he allegedly diverted his path to where Officer Lansing was stationed and launched a brutal attack.

Chambers-Smith also disclosed that Lansing had previously filed a conduct report against Cannon for disrespect, threats, and disobedience to a direct order. Cannon was found guilty of two of the three charges. Investigators are currently working to establish a motive for the fatal attack.

Lansing, a long-serving and well-respected officer at Ross, was mourned by his colleagues and the entire correctional institution. Chambers-Smith expressed her grief over his untimely death, describing him as a friendly, outgoing officer who treated everyone with respect. She lamented the tragedy of losing a staff member, particularly on Christmas Day, at the hands of an inmate.

Cannon, 27, has a criminal history dating back to his teenage years, including an armed robbery of his own uncle at the age of 18. He was serving a sentence for a violent assault on a woman in 2023, with an expected release date in 2030. He is now facing charges of aggravated murder while in detention.

The incident has heightened tensions between the state’s prison system and the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association. The association’s president, Christopher Mabe, has called for Chambers-Smith to be placed on administrative leave during the investigation into Lansing’s death. Mabe has also raised concerns about understaffing in the prison system, arguing that better pay is needed to attract more officers and match the risks they face.

Chambers-Smith acknowledged an 11% vacancy rate among guards and staff, attributing this to newly created positions for death row and security. She insisted that all posts were filled on the day of Lansing’s death.