News reports indicate the family of Blair County corrections officer Rhonda Russell is suing the county of Blair, the city of Altoona, employees of the Blair County prison and others for wrongful death. Officer Russell was killed last November at the district court building on 4th street after a prisoner freed himself from handcuffs and took Russell hostage. A city police officer fired his weapon, striking Russell and killing her. The suit claims Russell was put in a dangerous situation overseeing 8 inmates by herself, and that Christopher Aikens had been charged with trying to escape from his cell on previous occasions. The suit also claims that officer George Bistline who fired the fatal shot, was negligent for his handling of the hostage situation. Bistline passed away after the incident.
