Manhunt underway after prison guards were killed by two inmates during transport

Two inmates are being sought by law enforcement after two prison guards were killed during a bus transport in Georgia.

Georgia corrections officials identified the two inmates via Twitter Tuesday morning as 43-year-old Donnie Russell Rowe and 24-year-old Ricky Dubose.

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According to the agency, the pair allegedly overpowered the correctional officers, who were operating the bus transporting the inmates, and killed them before escaping in a Honda Civic, NBC News reports.

"They then disarmed them and one of the subjects shot and killed both guards," the sheriff's office said in a statement to the outlet. "Both subjects are now armed with the officers' .40 caliber Glock pistols."

The bus was found on Georgia Highway 16 about 75 miles south of Atlanta.

The Georgia Department of Corrections identified the slain officers later Tuesday as Christopher Monica and Curtis Billue via Twitter.

The Putnam County Sheriff's office confirmed to WSB-TV that the inmates carjacked a green 2004 Honda Civic, GA, tag RBJ6601.

The sheriff's office also confirmed that both the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are currently involved in the investigation, 11Alive reports.

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Officers have described Rowe as a white male weighing 181 pounds, 6'1'', and Dubose as a 140-pound white male, who is also 6'1''. Rowe was sentenced to life without parole for armed robbery and Dubose is also serving for armed robbery.

Police are urging people not to approach the pair and to alert authorities immediately if they spot the men.