South Carolina Prison Fights Leave 7 Inmates Dead, 17 Hurt

BISHOPVILLE, SC — Seven inmates were killed at a South Carolina prison and 17 more were hurt during multiple prison fights late Sunday. The incident at at Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville lasted more than seven hours, the state Department of Corrections said early Monday.

"Lee Correctional Institution was secured at 2:55 AM following an incident which started at 7:15 PM," the corrections officials tweeted. "The incident involved multiple inmate on inmate altercations in three housing units."

No officers were hurt.

The prison, a maximum-security facility, houses about 1,600 inmates, including some of the state's most violent. It's located about 50 miles northeast of Columbia, just off Interstate 20.

At least six emergency agencies responded to what was described by officials as a "mass casualty incident," the State reported. Ambulances from multiple jurisdictions lined up outside to treat the wounded inmates, Lee County Fire/Rescue said. The local coroner's office also responded.

SCDC Police Services and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division are investigating.
— SC Dept. Corrections (@SCDCNews) April 16, 2018

The Lee Correctional Institution has seen a slew of violent incidents over the last two years.

June 2016

Ae Kingratsaiphon, 35, is killed and a second inmate is hurt by fellow inmates in a dorm.

July 2016

Three inmates are stabbed during an incident in the same dorm where Kingratsaiphon was slain.

July 2017

Inmate Christian Ray, 22, died during a fight at Lee Correctional Institution.

October 2017

Larry Jerome Rainey, 51, is stabbed to death during an inmate-on-inmate fight.

February 2018

Inmate Robert Odell Brown, 33, is killed by a fellow inmate during a fight.

March 2018

Inmates overpower corrections officer, take him hostage and seize control of a section of a dorm. The officer's keys were stolen and the inmates released other inmates.

Photo credit: Sean Rayford/Associated Press