Two detention officers were escorting the suspect -- a heightened protocol after the inmate had previously attempted a failed escape from jail, authorities said.

A federal inmate escaped from custody at a medical clinic in western North Carolina and fatally shot a detention officer with his own gun Monday, then fled in a stolen vehicle before being captured in another county,

Inmate Kelvin Simmons fatally shot Officer Francisco Flattes during a medical transport after overpowering him and seizing a firearm.