Cherokee County Detention Officer Killed During Inmate Escape, Multi-County Chase Ensues

Cherokee County Detention Officer Francisco Flattes was fatally shot by inmate Kelvin Simmons during a transport to a medical appointment on June 30, 2025. Simmons, who was in custody on federal bank robbery charges and had previously attempted escape, overpowered officers Flattes and George Feinauer, seizing a firearm and killing Flattes. After the shooting, Simmons carjacked a vehicle and led law enforcement on a multi-county chase through Clay and Macon Counties, ending in a standoff where he was apprehended. Flattes, 56, had served four years with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office and is remembered fondly by colleagues and community members. The North Carolina Bureau of Investigation and the FBI are conducting the ongoing investigation, and Simmons faces first-degree murder charges. Flags were ordered at half-staff across North Carolina in honor of Officer Flattes, and counseling support has been offered to the sheriff's office staff.