Sheriff: Inmates fired shots 2 to 3 seconds after getting through bus door

PUTNAM COUNTY, Ga. — Video from inside the prison bus where two corrections officers were murdered last week is providing some clues as to what happened.

Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills told Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Mark Winne that video from two cameras on the bus captured the events leading up to the murders of officers Christopher Monica and Curtis Billue.

According to Sills, the video shows inmates Donnie Rowe and Ricky Dubose going quickly through the door separating the inmates from the officers as if it were either unlocked or they had some means of unlocking it with little difficulty, or the door had been surreptitiously wedged open earlier.

Sills said at least one of the inmates was already out of the handcuffs they were supposed to be wearing when they approached the door.

He said they appeared to be out of the leg shackles all the inmates were supposed to be wearing because one of them kicked a window out to make their escape from the bus.

Sills said the gunfire started within two or three seconds of when the inmates got through the door.

Sills told Winne that when he arrived at the scene, he believes the other 31 inmates were handcuffed and shackled still.

Sills said he requested FBI agents do the first questioning of Row and Dubose after their capture in Tennessee, and both inmates made statements. He said he doesn’t want to release the content of the statements to protect the integrity of the court process.

"Our focus remains on the family and loved ones of our officers, and we are doing everything we can to support the family of Sgt. Monica as they prepare to lay him to rest tomorrow. As is standard procedure following any incident within GDC, we are, and will continue to review policies and processes related to this tragedy, will be communicating our findings at the appropriate time," said Joan Heath, Georgia Department of Corrections.

Cox Media Group