An inmate with a criminal history of violence housed at the Barry B. Telford Unit in New Boston, Texas, allegedly killed a Texas Department of Corrections officer on Wednesday.

The inmate allegedly assaulted the officer, 47-year-old Timothy Davison, with an iron bar when the officer escorted him to his cell.

The 37-year-old inmate, Billy Joel Tracy, somehow obtained an iron bar used to open cell door slots when delivering food.

Tracy has a criminal history of violence and serves a life sentence for aggravated assault and burglary of a habitation from a conviction in Rockwall County in 1998.

Tracy was also convicted of retaliation in Tarrant County and was sentenced to three years, and received 20 years for assault on a public servant in Rockwall County in 1998.

The inmate serves 45 years out of Potter County for the 2007 convictions of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a public servant, aggravated assault with serious bodily injury on a public servant, and possession of a deadly weapon in a penal institution.

According to a statement released by Jason Smith, TDCJ director of public information, a medical helicopter took Davison to Christus St. Michael’s Hospital in Texarkana, Texas where he later died.

Following the death of Correctional Officer Timothy Davison, Governor Greg Abbott released this statement, “The State of Texas mourns for the family of Officer Timothy Davison, who was murdered by an inmate at the Telford Unit in New Boston, Texas. On behalf of the entire state, Cecilia and I extend our deepest condolences to the Davison family during this incredibly difficult time.”

The governor continued, “Officer Davison was a public servant in the truest sense of the phrase, but more importantly, he was a parent to two children who will remain in our thoughts and prayers as they grieve the loss of their father.”

“The State of Texas will ensure that the inmate responsible for this heinous act is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” promised the governor of Texas.

Lana Shadwick is a contributing writer and legal analyst for Breitbart Texas. She has served as a prosecutor and an associate judge. Follow her on Twitter @LanaShadwick2