Authorities identify inmate who attacked Virginia corrections officer, resulting in his death

The Virginia Department of Corrections has identified the inmate who attacked a corrections officer who later died.

The inmate is 32-year-old John Holomon Russell. Russell was serving an 11-year, 11-month sentence. He had been sentenced to 15 years with 8 years and 1 month suspended for a carjacking offense, 3 years for use of a firearm in commission of a felony offense and 4 years and 8 months with 2 years and 8 months suspended for a shoplifting offense.

The attack occurred at River North Correctional Center in Independence in southwest Virginia on Monday morning. The officer who died was 40-year-old Jeremy Lewis Hall. He had been an employee with the VADOC since April 25, 2024.

Two other officers were treated at a local hospital after the attack but have been released.