One of 2 people whose names were not reported
One of seven people held at Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville, South Carolina, died on April 15, 2018, when fighting broke out across several housing units that Sunday evening and lasted about seven hours. The Lee County coroner, Larry Logan, said most of the dead were stabbed or slashed and the rest appeared to have been beaten, and autopsies were pending. The state Department of Corrections said the violence was gang fighting over territory and contraband, and corrections officials said staff entered as fast as they safely could. A prisoner told the Associated Press that aid came hours late, and a lawsuit filed by a surviving prisoner says some of those who died were wounded and waited hours for first responders to reach the dorm.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (neglect alleged). The coroner said most of the dead were stabbed or slashed and the rest appeared to have been beaten, and the prison system blamed inmate fighting; an inmate told AP that no staff attended to the dead or dying for hours, while corrections officials said staff entered as fast as they safely could.
Reported by: South Carolina Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); Lee County Coroner Larry Logan (medical examiner or coroner); an inmate who spoke to the Associated Press (witnesses); a surviving inmate's lawsuit (witnesses).
Lawsuit: A surviving inmate filed a lawsuit saying some of those who died were wounded and waited hours for first responders, and no settlement or award amount is reported.
Sources (24)
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