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Cooper orders flags across NC to half-staff in honor of slain correctional officer

Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday ordered flags at state facilities to be lowered in honor of Sgt. Megan Lee Callahan, a correctional officer who died Wednesday after being assaulted at the Bertie Correctional Institution in Windsor.

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Meggan Callahan
WINDSOR, N.C. — Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday ordered flags at state facilities to be lowered in honor of Sgt. Meggan Lee Callahan, a correctional officer who died Wednesday after being assaulted at the Bertie Correctional Institution in Windsor.

Officials say Callahan was attacked at about 5:30 p.m. by inmate Craig Wissink, a man serving a life sentence for a first-degree murder conviction in Cumberland County.

Emergency officials attempted to save Callahan's life following the assault, but the 29-year-old died at about 6:20 p.m., officials said.

Wissink is being investigated in connection with Callahan’s death. The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident.

Callahan, of Edenton, joined the North Carolina Department of Public Safety in January 2012 and was promoted to sergeant in February 2016.

"I am deeply saddened and send my heartfelt sympathies to Sergeant Callahan's family," said Public Safety Secretary Erik A. Hooks. "We will do all we can to support her family as well as the correctional family. The department will cooperate fully with the law enforcement investigation as well as conduct its own internal investigation."

Cooper echoed those sentiments.

“I'm deeply saddened by this tragedy. This reminds us of the risks that law enforcement including correctional officers take every day to protect us," he said.

Wissink has been in prison since April 2004.

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