Gene Arnold “Root Root” Hawkins, charged last year with the 2006 shooting death of Shelby Salmon, has been taken to Raleigh’s Central Prison for safekeeping.

The move was done last week after Hawkins allegedly assaulted an inmate in the Halifax County Jail, a jail spokesperson confirmed.

Hawkins was charged March 30 with assault with a deadly inflicting serious injury and possession of a weapon while in custody.

Nakeen Saunders and Hawkins had a misunderstanding and Hawkins allegedly assaulted him with a piece of metal fashioned into a weapon, the sheriff’s office reported.

Saunders was assaulted in the face, head and lips. None of the injuries were life threatening.