Second officer killed on prison bus laid to rest

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — A corrections officer killed on a prison transport bus last week was laid to rest in Milledgeville on Tuesday.

Officers Chris Monica and Curtis Billue were shot to death last Tuesday after agents say two inmates escaped their shackles, got through the gate at the front of the bus and grabbed the officers’ guns.

The inmates were on the run for more than two days before they were captured in Tennessee.

Monica’s funeral began at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Milledgeville, where he lived with his wife.

He had two daughters, ages 16 and 29, and two grandchildren, ages 9 and 10.

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According to a GoFundMe page set up by a family friend, Monica was working extra shifts to support his sick wife when he was killed early last Tuesday morning.

During the service, Channel 2's Chris Jose heard from the prison warden and Commissioner Greg Dozier, who works for the Georgia Department of Corrections.

A funeral program was handed out, giving attendees a small sample of Sgt. Monica’s life.

“We are hard pressed,” Monica’s niece, Brooke Lawson said. “Struck down, but not destroyed.”

Every person in uniform at the funeral was mourning the loss of one of their own.

“We loved Chris,” Commissioner Dozier said.

Monica’s family said there were so many good stories and wonderful memories both at home and at work with the fallen officer.

“We will miss his selflessness and kindness, but we will never forget,” Lawson said. “God has filled our lives with so much joy because of Chris.”

Billue's funeral was held on Saturday in the Wilkinson County High School auditorium. The 58-year-old graduated from the school and still lived in the county, where he was a caregiver for his elderly father. He left behind two sons.

Cox Media Group