A veteran corrections officer at Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe, Ohio, was tragically killed on Christmas morning following an assault by an inmate. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) identified the officer as Andrew Lansing, a respected and longtime employee of the facility.
Director Annette Chambers-Smith described the incident as a heartbreaking loss for Lansing’s family, colleagues, and the entire agency. “To lose a family member on Christmas Day at the hands of someone in our custody is a tragedy beyond comprehension. Instead of spending the holiday with his loved ones, Officer Lansing made the ultimate sacrifice,” Chambers-Smith said. Lansing was widely regarded as a friendly, professional, and supportive figure among his peers.
The ODRC reported that the prison is currently under restricted movement while the Ohio State Highway Patrol investigates the incident. The inmate accused in the assault, identified as 27-year-old Rashawn L. Cannon, has been transferred to the maximum-security Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville for heightened security.
Governor Mike DeWine has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff across Ross County, as well as at state government buildings, until sunset on the day of Lansing’s funeral. “We ask that you keep Officer Lansing’s family and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers during this devastating time,” the ODRC statement read.
Lansing’s career in corrections spanned decades, beginning at Marion Correctional Institution in 1985. He joined Ross Correctional Institution in 1994, briefly leaving in 2007 before returning in 2013. His untimely death marks a somber moment for the Ross Correctional Institution community and highlights the ongoing dangers faced by correctional staff.