(Michigan City, IN) - A trial is scheduled to begin Monday for an Indiana State Prison inmate accused of killing a correctional officer from La Porte.

 

Ty’metri Campbell is charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery and prisoner possessing a dangerous device or materials. He allegedly delivered multiple stab wounds to Lt. Gene Lasco in February of 2021. Lasco, 57, died a short time later.

            

According to court documents, Campbell somehow freed a hand from one of the handcuffs he was wearing after taking a shower.

Campbell was running down a stairwell when he repeatedly stabbed a correctional officer he encountered then after reaching the main level of the prison encountered Lasco and stabbed him multiple times, according to court documents. 

 

Campbell was moving toward two other correctional officers with a knife in his hand when hit with pepper spray. He allegedly dropped the knife and was tackled to the prison floor, authorities said. According to court documents, Campbell explained his alleged actions by claiming he “felt possessed by a different entity” and believed people were out to harm or kill him.

 

At the time of the stabbings, Campbell was serving a 130 year prison sentence for a triple murder that occurred in Indianapolis in 2002.  The defense is expected to argue Campbell was insane at the time of the stabbings.

 

The trial will begin with jury selection before opening arguments are given in La Porte Superior Court 2 in Michigan City before Judge Richard Stalbrink, Jr.