Manhunt for Escaped Georgia Inmates
BANFIELD: Following breaking news right now. Two correction officers shot dead. They were killed while transporting 33 prisoners in Georgia. The investigators say two of those inmates busted through what should have been a locked back door on the bus and attacked those officers.</s>HOWARD SILLS, PUTNAM COUNTY SHERIFF: Approximately 6:45 this morning on Highway 16 between here and Sparta, Georgia. That was a department of corrections bus. A trasport bus. Similar to the one you see there. That`s not the bus, but similar to that one. Transporting state prisoners. This was not a work (inaudible). Two of the prisoners got out of the back somehow and got into the driver`s compartment. Overpowered the guards, the officers who were driving the bus. Obtained their weapons and shot and killed both the correction officers.</s>BANFIELD: Out there tonight somewhere, Donnie Rowe and Ricky Dubose. Investigators say they carjacked 2004 green Honda Civic. Just moments after the murders, they could still be in it. Sheriff says simply put these men dangerous people.</s>SILLS: We are still desperately looking for these two individuals. They are armed with 9-mm pistols that were taken from the correction officers. They are dangerous beyond description. If anyone sees them, they need to contact, call 911, whoever they are and report it immediately.</s>BANFIELD: CNN national correspondent Nick Valencia joins me now from the sheriff`s office in Putnam County, Georgia. What`s the latest, Nick?</s>NICK VALENCIA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Ricky Dubose and Donnie Rowe, both of them have extensive criminal histories. Both of them on the run right now. The outstanding question of course, Ashleigh, is where these individuals might be. We heard just a little while ago according to local media reports that they may have been spotted about 25 miles outside of Atlanta, east of Atlanta, in a place called Conyers. That green Honda that they carjacked evidently still the car that they are using. Both these men said to be armed and dangerous. Ashleigh?</s>BANFIELD: So the Dubose character, we just had a shot of him up, man, those tattoos are so obvious, I can`t imagine he`s going to get far. He`s got designs over his eyebrows. He`s got the word "always" tattooed across his neck. Are they able to give any better descriptions that that? Clothes they might have stolen along the way. I think two robberies have been possibly reported now.</s>VALENCIA: We know according to the Putnam County sheriff that they entered a residence in Madison about 20 or so minutes away from here. In that residence, were out of their prison jumpsuits. changed into clothes. They were also spotted later at a family dollar there in Madison. We understand from local reports as well that some of those businesses in Madison were on lock down for a short time, but the latest sighting of them, Ashleigh, is about 20 miles outside of Atlanta in Conyers. It seems as though they`re trying to head west. We also know that the authorities in neighboring Alabama have been given a heads up about the potential that they may be heading there. It`s a nationwide manhunt at this point. Officials have stressed to us that they could be anywhere. Ashleigh?</s>BANFIELD: One of them was in prison for life without parole. Stand by for a second, Nick. I want to bring in Misty Marris and Troy Slaten into this. Misty, life without parole means you are not living your prison unless you`re toe tagged. Don`t you transport those prisoners way differently?</s>MARRIS: Absolutely. You have to have precautions far beyond average. You`re talking about someone with absolutely nothing to lose that`s now in the public at large. The precautions have to be above and beyond. The fact that these prisoners were able to overtake this van is beyond disturbing.</s>BANFIELD: I mean, get out of the van and get into the cab of the van and get the weapons apparently from the corrections officers and murder both of them allegedly. Real quick, Troy, you talk about murder in Georgia and it`s serious business now. You talk about murdering a corrections official and you up the ante, don`t you?</s>SLATEN: The most dangerous thing that correction officers do is transport prisoners, especially ones that have nothing to lose. That it doesn`t mean anything for them to commit this murder because you can`t keep them in longer except in this state the death penalty is alive and well.</s>BANFIELD: Bingo. And the aggravator is corrections officer. So, everyone, keep your eyes for tattoos like these and looks can kill. So, be real, real careful. Ricky Dubose and Donnie Rowe out there somewhere tonight. We`re going to keep an eye on this manhunt for you. Meantime, back right after this.