Georgia fugitive confesses to gunning down prison guards

Ricky Dubose said he shot two correctional officers so he and another inmate could escape from a prison transport bus but he said the deadly attack wasn’t planned, according to an interview with law enforcement officials played in court today.

Dubose told agents from the FBI and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation that he seized an opportunity — the gate separating the officers from the inmates was unlocked, guards had failed to double lock prisoners’ handcuffs and one of the officers was asleep. 

Dubose and fellow inmate, Donnie Rowe, fled after the shooting the guards with their own guns, leading authorities on a three-day manhunt that ended in Tennessee.

Dubose also said Rowe didn’t want to kill anyone, according to the interview. 

Both men are facing the death penalty if convicted of murdering Sgts. Christopher Monica and Curtis Billue just before dawn a year ago.

Dubose’s lawyers are asking Superior Court Judge Allison Burleson to keep the video recording of the confession out of the evidence that is presented when he goes on trial in Putnam County. No trial date has been set.

A state Department of Corrections review of the June 2017 escape identified a number of serious security lapses .