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An Onondaga County grand jury has indicted inmate Jeffrey Tillman for allegedly stabbing Deputy Erik Francis at the Onondaga County Justice Center in Syracuse. The incident occurred last Friday (January 10), when Tillman reportedly attacked Deputy Francis in the common room of his cell block. Deputy David Passino was also injured while trying to intervene. Passino used pepper spray to slow Tillman, allowing Francis to deploy his taser and subdue the inmate.
Tillman, who has been in jail since October 2024, now faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, criminal possession of a weapon, and assault while confined in a correctional facility. Following the indictment, he was transferred to the Cortland County Jail for safety reasons.
According to WSYR-TV, the grand jury's decision came just five days after the attack, with the indictment certificate submitted on January 15. The swift decision was likely influenced by surveillance video that captured the entire incident.
The Onondaga County Sheriff's Office is investigating how Tillman obtained the four-inch knife used in the attack. Despite a thorough search of the jail, no additional weapons were found. Sheriff Toby Shelley stated that the attack was "totally unprovoked" and emphasized the professionalism of the deputies during the subsequent lockdown and search.
CNY Central reported that the Sheriff's Office is considering the possibility that the knife was brought in from outside the jail. The investigation continues as officials review everyone who had contact with Tillman since his arrival.
The case now moves to a county-level courtroom, and the grand jury may still consider upgrading the charges against Tillman. The Sheriff's Office has not yet released the results of its investigation into the incident.