County reels over shooting death
Russell shoved into line of fire
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Editor’s note: The following is a clarification of the original story published in the Nov. 19 edition of the Mirror.
The Altoona police officer involved in Wednesday's fatal shooting at Blair County Central Court had his gun holstered when he was first confronted by an armed inmate.
Trooper Christopher Fox clarified Friday that the officer had the firearm in his possession at the time of the incident, adding that the officer retreated to the hallway to unholster the weapon from his belt in a safe location, which officers are trained to do.
The officer serving as a court liaison was in plain clothes in another part of the Fourth Street building when he heard a commotion from another room at 3:12 p.m. Wednesday. When he opened a door to the holding area, he found Christopher Jame Aikens, 54, holding corrections officer Rhonda Jean Russell, 47, against her will and pointing her gun at the officer's face.
The officer ducked out to unholster his weapon before returning to confront Aikens and firing a shot at him. Police said Aikens moved Russell into the line of fire and the bullet struck her. She later died from the wound.
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An Altoona man with a criminal history dating back to the 1980s has been identified as the inmate who overpowered a corrections officer and threw her into an Altoona police officer's line of fire Wednesday afternoon in Central Court.
Christopher Jame Aikens, 54, was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon after he disarmed a corrections officer and initiated an altercation that resulted in the death of officer Rhonda Jean Russell, 47, of Altoona, according to police.
Aikens, an inmate at Blair County Prison, was at Central Court for a preliminary hearing on multiple firearm and drug charges related to a state parole violation, according to reports.
Court documents state that video surveillance footage obtained at the scene captured the incident and was reviewed by investigators.
Police said Russell was the lone law enforcement officer or corrections officer in a holding area that contained several other detained inmates when Aikens asked to use the restroom.
Russell uncuffed one of Aikens' hands so that he could use the restroom.
According to the affidavit, Aikens entered the restroom with one hand free, but exited a short time later with both hands "free from movement-restricting restraints."
When Russell attempted to open the door for Aikens to re-enter the holding cell, Aikens physically assaulted her, video shows.
During the struggle, Russell and Aikens entered an adjacent empty holding cell where Aikens gained control of Russell's firearm and held her against her will, according to reports.
A male Altoona police officer, who was working as a court liaison officer in plain clothes in another area of the building, overheard the commotion. The affidavit states that the officer opened a holding cell door and unexpectedly encountered Aikens pointing a handgun at his face while Russell struggled to free herself from Aikens.
The officer retreated into the hallway and retrieved his duty pistol, reports state.
After again opening the door to the holding cell, Aikens pointed Russell's firearm at the male officer for a second time, and the officer fired one round in an attempt to stop Aikens.
Aikens lifted Russell into the line of fire, causing the bullet to strike her, the affidavit states.
Other officers responded along with AMED and lifesaving measures were performed at the scene before Russell was transported to UPMC Altoona where she was later pronounced dead, police reported.
The Blair County Coroner's Office declined to reveal the nature of Russell's injuries due to the incident still being under investigation. Officials said more information from the coroner's office will be released at a later time.
An autopsy will be conducted by Harry Kamerow at Mount Nittany Medical Center, State College.
Sgt. Matt Plummer of the Altoona Police Department said the officer involved in the shooting has been placed on administrative leave, as per department protocols.
The Mirror is not revealing the identity of the law enforcement officer involved in the shooting at this time.
Police said in addition to the video surveillance, statements from the officer, Aikens and other inmates have been collected.
"It's still an active investigation," said Trooper Jacob Rhymestine of the state police. "We are still investigating the incident and will release more information when it becomes available."
In testimony to police, other inmates in the holding cell said that Aikens made repeated trips to the restroom and had expressed his intention to escape.
Inmates told police that Aikens said he would not allow anyone to interfere with his plan to escape, stating he wanted to avoid what he expected to be an extensive prison sentence.
Charges include kidnap, escape, murder
According to court documents, Aikens was transported to the Altoona Police Department and later the state police barracks in Hollidaysburg where he allegedly admitted that he intended to escape and said he was surprised that he and other inmates were left alone with Russell.
In his statement to police, Aikens admitted he intended to disarm Russell and intentionally pointed her firearm at the unnamed Altoona police officer, adding that he was able to remove his handcuffs from the restraint belt because one handcuff was left open.
Aikens was arraigned about 1:30 a.m. Thursday by Magisterial District Judge Fred B. Miller on 15 felonies and two misdemeanor -- murder of the second degree, two counts of murder of law enforcement officer of the second degree, aggravated assault with attempts to cause serious bodily injury or cause injury with extreme indifference, aggravated assault with attempts to cause serious bodily injury to designated individuals, aggravated assault with attempts to cause bodily injury to designated individuals, aggravated assault with attempts to cause bodily injury with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault with fear of imminent serious bodily injury designated individuals, assault by prisoner, kidnapping to facilitate a felony, disarming a law enforcement officer without lawful authorization, escape, possession of a firearm prohibited, robbery with threat of immediate serious injury, recklessly endangering another person, possession of a crime instrument and possession of a firearm in a court facility for use in a crime.
Aikens was taken by state police to the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon, where he is currently lodged, and a state parole detainer was issued, court records show.
A preliminary hearing for the murder charges is scheduled Dec. 1 before Magisterial District Judge Daniel C. DeAntonio.
History of arrests
Aikens was being held at the Blair County Prison in lieu of $100,000 cash bail for a Nov. 10 arrest after parole officers reportedly seized methamphetamine, marijuana and firearms from his residence on the 3000 block of West Chestnut Avenue.
Following Wednesday's deadly incident, he was denied bail due to the nature of the charges, being a flight risk and his "threat to community," the docket stated.
According to court documents, Aikens has a long criminal history in Blair County that goes back more than 35 years.
In 1984, court records show Aikens was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance. In 1985, he was charged with theft. By 1986, charges included burglary, receiving stolen property, theft, criminal mischief and removing or falsification of vehicle identification numbers and theft by deception.
In 1987, Aikens faced harassment, terrorist threats and witness intimidation charges, along with multiple burglary and robbery charges.
Court documents show Aikens was charged with robbery in 1995, along with theft, receiving stolen property, recklessly endangering another person, former convict not to possess a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license and simple assault.
Aikens was arrested in 2001 for simple assault charges in Berks County, and following a guilty plea, he was sentenced for two years' probation.
Central Court building reopens
Police cleared the Blair County Central Court building about 10 p.m. Wednesday, and the Central Court building resumed normal operations Thursday, according to Stacey Witalec of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.
Mirror Staff Writer Calem Illig is at 814-946-7535.