Officer Thompson succumbed to head injuries received the previous day when he was assaulted by a prisoner. Officers were in the process of performing a lock-down due to a prison fight. During the lock-down one of the inmates attacked Officer Thompson near his station at the control center, he fell backwards, hitting his head on a three or four inch steel beam and a concrete sidewalk. Officer Thompson died from blunt force injury to the head.
The 21 year-old suspect had served eight months of a two year sentence for assault with intent to kill. He was convicted of second degree murder and received an additional 10 years. In 1984 his sentence was overturned.
Officer Thompson was survived by his wife and two children.
