1 deputy shot, another stabbed by inmate awaiting hearing at northern Virginia courthouse

2 deputies injured by inmate at Va. courthouse

RICHMOND, Va. — An inmate awaiting a court hearing shot a deputy and stabbed another in a holding cell at a northern Virginia courthouse Wednesday, authorities said.

Fauquier County sheriff’s Lt. James Hartman said George Golder Phillips II, 30, of Warrenton shot one deputy in the leg, and stabbed the other in the face around 1 p.m. Both were taken to hospitals in stable condition.

The deputies had transported Phillips, who is also suspected of robbing banks, from the local jail to the Fauquier County courthouse in Warrenton, about 45 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., for a hearing.

Hartman said Phillips stabbed Deputy Thomas Leake, 41, with a self-made instrument when the officer entered the holding cell. A struggle ensued, and Phillips grabbed Leake’s gun from its holster. Hartman said Master Deputy Charles Embrey, 38, entered the cell to assist and was shot in the upper leg.

Leake and Embrey managed to subdue Phillips, who was taken into custody uninjured after other deputies arrived, Hartman said.

Phillips was indicted Nov. 23 on two charges of robbing banks and several other related charges.

He was charged Wednesday with one count of attempted murder of a police officer. He is set to appear in court Jan. 7 on that charge.

Phillips pleaded guilty to another robbery in 1998 and was sentenced to 15 years in prison with five suspended.

A message seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned by the public defender’s office, which was representing Phillips on the robbery charges.