A Virginia prison inmate was captured yesterday after a violent escape from Emporia prison. Officials report that Jeffrey Bruce Shortal escaped during transfer to a medical center for physical therapy.

Shortal assaulted one officer, beating him over the head with a hand weight and robbing him of his pistol.  The other officer was robbed at gunpoint. Shortal then attempted to rob two senior citizens at gunpoint as well, demanding their car keys. When the two citizens refused, Shortal held another woman at gunpoint and stole her Ford Explorer.

Officers pursued Shortal in a high-speed chase, reaching speeds of 110 mph, according to reports. Deputies used “stop sticks”, placed on the highway, to puncture the tires on Shortal's stolen vehicle. The vehicle crashed, and Shortal attempted to escape on foot. Officials captured him shortly afterwards. Shortal faces a number of charges, including abduction, robbery, use of a firearm, malicious wounding and escape.