[JeffAtlanta]

The escorting deputy's gun was unsecured at the time and this violent prisoner was not shackled because the court "didn't want to prejudice the jury." He simply took the deputy's weapon away from him and started shooting.

It has been reported that he was out on bond - why would he be in shackles?

[Bonaparte]

"...why would he be in shackles?"

Perhaps a better question would be, "Why wasn't he wearing a stun belt?" This was a defendant charged with a crime of violence.