Turnkey Pfliiger was shot and killed by an inmate who was attempting to escape.

Inmates were returning to their cells from a religious service in the chapel, when a count of the line revealed that a inmate was missing. The escape alarm was sounded and Turnkey Pfliiger ran to assist in the search. As Turnkey Pfliiger approached the missing inmate's hiding spot, the inmate appeared and opened fire, killing Turnkey Pfliiger. The inmate then exchanged several shot with other guards before he was finally taken into custody. The inmate later told guards that he found the gun on a bench in the prison shop.