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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- The Blair County Prison corrections officer who was killed on the job Wednesday was well-liked and respected by her co-workers and by the inmates, prison administrators and county leaders said Thursday.
"It's pretty quiet and somber here in the prison today," Deputy Warden James Eckard said Thursday. "The inmates are mourning her loss just like we are."
Rhonda Jean Russell, 47, died at UPMC Altoona where she was transported after being shot at Central Court in Altoona. She had escorted county inmates to the court facility for preliminary hearings.
One of the inmates, Christopher Aikens, 54, is accused of disarming Russell in the court building and aiming her gun at a responding Altoona police officer. When the officer fired, Aikens lifted Russell into the line of fire, according to state police at Hollidaysburg who charged Aikens Thursday with second-degree murder and related offenses.
Eckard and fellow Deputy Warden Shaun Edmundson said Thursday morning that they remained stunned.
"It's unbelievable what happened," Eckard said. "My heart hurts for her family and for everybody here at the prison."
Those who knew Russell describe her as a good mother of three sons, a good friend, a good daughter and an experienced corrections officer. She started working for the prison almost 15 years ago, on Jan. 29, 2007.
"Rhonda was a wonderful person and a great asset to the prison," Warden Abbie Tate said Thursday.
Eckard and Edmundson agreed.
"She could work any post in the prison and did," Eckard said.
"She worked a lot of hours," Edmundson said. "She took pride in her job and she did it well."
A former inmate posted an online message Thursday indicating that she will be forever grateful to Russell.
"She touched my life when I was in a very dark place," the woman wrote. " Because of people like her, I turned my life around."
Sheriff James Ott said he knew Russell, who was a regular among the prison corrections officers sharing inmate transport duties with the sheriff deputies.
"Any loss is tragic," Ott said. "Our hearts go out to the prison and its staff."
Similar condolence comments were rendered Thursday by individuals and organizations inside and outside of Blair County.
Eckard said he was regularly being contacted by law enforcement agencies and others who offered to participate in a line-of-duty death service, an option that will be up to Russell's family.
Gov. Tom Wolf ordered the commonwealth flag on all commonwealth facilities, public buildings and grounds in Blair County to fly at half-staff in Russell's honor. All Pennsylvanians are invited to participate in the tribute.
"It's a devastating day for everybody," said Controller A.C. Stickel, who chairs the county prison board. "We need to pray for her family and for her fellow officers who still have a job to do."
Stickel said Aikens should be held accountable.
"I want to see him prosecuted to the fullest extent," Stickel said.
Russell's death also prompted discussion on the need for security improvements at district court buildings and the option of consolidating district court proceedings at the courthouse.
"Consolidating the proceedings here (at the courthouse) would reduce the amount of inmates being transported," defense attorney Dan Kiss said Thursday. "That would be safer."
Ott said all the district court buildings should have better security.
"A tragic incident always prompts questions and evaluations as to what safety improvements can be made," Ott said. "I'm sure that will occur in this case, but sadly, whatever changes are made won't bring anybody back."
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.