COLUMBUS, Ohio (WLIO) — The family of a correctional officer killed on Christmas Day in 2024 has filed lawsuits against the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction and the inmate accused of killing him.
A lawsuit was filed in the Ohio Court of Claims by the wife of Andrew Lansing, who was beaten to death while on duty at Ross Correctional Institution. The suit alleges the state prison system failed to protect Lansing, citing a lack of proper supervision, staffing and security protocols.
According to a report from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, inmate Rashawn Cannon of Lima veered away from a group heading to a meal and attacked Lansing inside a guard shack located in the prison courtyard. Cannon was serving a sentence after being convicted of felonious assault in Allen County in 2023.
The department’s report states that staffing levels, Cannon’s inmate classification and equipment were all in compliance on the day of the incident. Lansing’s family has also filed a separate civil lawsuit against Cannon. He is facing murder and additional charges related to Lansing’s death. Cannon’s criminal trial is scheduled for September 2026.
