BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C.–Seven inmates have died and another 17 injured following a prison riot at Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville, S.C. over the weekend.
Inmates armed with homemade knives fought each other for about seven hours over territory and money in the worst U.S. prison riot in a quarter-century, officials said Monday.
Two of the inmates killed were from Berkeley County, prison officials confirmed.
They are Eddie Gaskins, 32, and Joshua Jenkins, 33.
Gaskins was serving a 10-year sentence for first-degree criminal domestic violence.
Jenkins was serving 15 years for voluntary manslaughter.
Lee County Fire/Rescue assisted With a Mass Causality Incident at Lee Correctional. Mutual Aid was received from FlorenceCounty EMS, Kershaw County EMS, Darlington County EMS, Lexington County EMS and Hartsville Rescue. Assistance was also received from Med One a private service. pic.twitter.com/P22A1ruzQY
— Lee County Fire (@LeeCountyFire) April 16, 2018
Clashes among inmates at the prison erupted about 7:15 p.m. Sunday, state Corrections Department chief Bryan Stirling said at a news conference. The fighting spread to three housing units, but no officers were wounded, he said.
“Preliminarily we believe this was gangs fighting over territory,” Sterling said. “These folks are fighting over real money and real territory while they are incarcerated.”
The prison has seen violent episodes in the past. Two officers were stabbed in a 2015 fight at the prison. One inmate killed another in February.
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