Texas prison inmate charged with murder for allegedly attacking detention officer: ‘Pure evil’

A 28-year-old Texas detention officer died after he was allegedly attacked by an inmate while returning him to his cell.

During a press conference on Tuesday, Ellis County Sheriff Brad Norman revealed that Officer Isaiah Bias was killed Monday in an alleged jail attack.

“We stand here today and acknowledge with great sadness that we have lost a man,” Norman said. “Isaiah Bias, 28, was a dedicated detention officer with the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department office for over six years,” Norman said.

Norman called the attack by 45-year-old suspect Aaron Thompson “pure evil” but gave no details about how Bias was killed.

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“Most of the time, law enforcement and detention officers deal with good people who have a bad day. Sometimes, we deal with bad people,” Norman said. “I can honestly say that my staff has had a tough time over the past day. It’s pure evil that’s being dealt with.”

Norman said Thompson was charged with murder, adding that he would recommend the death penalty.

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Detention officer Isaiah Bias at the Ellis County Jail in Texas died Monday after an alleged assault by an inmate. (Ellis County Sheriff’s Office)

“This was a heinous, horrific, purposeful murder that was senseless and unnecessary,” Norman said. “The final decision will be made by the District Attorney’s Office whether or not they seek the death penalty in this case. If What I have to say about that is what will happen, but the final decision is up to the District Attorney’s Office.”

According to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by KDFW, Thompson punched and kicked Bias, knocking him to the ground, then allegedly began hitting him in the head with her fists, knees and feet, causing him to choke.

Thompson then walked over to a table and sat down, leaving Bias in “a large pool of blood,” the affidavit said.

Thompson was jailed last month on three counts of assaulting a public servant and evading arrest and was placed in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day, Norman said.

Norman said he met Bias as a teenager in the prison’s Explorers program.

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At a news conference, Ellis County Sheriff Brad Norman said detention officer Isaiah Bias died Monday after being attacked by an inmate. (Ellis County Sheriff’s Office)

“He wanted to go into law enforcement. He came to work in prisons,” Norman said. “You can work in jails when you’re 18. You can’t be a peace officer in Texas until you’re 21,” Norman said.

Norman also described Bias as a “very family-oriented man” and said he had become an uncle just a week before he was murdered.

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“His sister’s baby was a week old and he was able to see the baby the day it was born,” Norman said. “He loved what he did. People around him loved him. Law enforcement was a career path that he loved.”

The Texas Rangers have taken over the murder investigation. Thompson was arraigned and bail was set at $2 million.

Stepheny Price is a contributor to Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com