AN INMATE was shot and killed when he tried to escape from a district jail in the province of Zamboanga del Norte, the police reported Sunday.

Inspector Dahlan Samuddin, Police Regional Office Zamboanga Peninsula information officer, identified the slain inmate as Anthony Lamanan, who was charged with murder.

Samuddin said the incident took place around 2:39 p.m. Saturday at the Sindangan District Jail, Zamboanga del Norte.

Investigation showed that Lamanan attacked and tried to snatch the service firearm of Jail Officer Avelino Cariño after he was allowed to go out of the detention cell purposely to get his dried clothes.

He said Lamanan ran and tried to escape despite failing to grab Cariño’s firearm, prompting the jail guard to shoot him after ignoring two successive warming shots.

He said Lamanan rushed to the Sindangan District Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Lamanan was committed to the Sindangan District Jail last June 15 for murder, said Samuddin.