Deaths in CustodyWork in progressIn progress
Died in prison

One of 4 people whose names were not reported

died April 16, 2018 · Lee Correctional Institution, Lee County, South Carolina

One of seven people killed in a riot at Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville, South Carolina, on the night of April 15, 2018. State officials said fighting between groups held in three housing units, over territory and contraband, lasted about seven hours before the prison was secured in the early hours of April 16. Lee County Coroner Larry Logan said most of the dead were stabbed or slashed and the rest appeared to have been beaten, and that autopsies were pending. A prisoner told the Associated Press that no staff attended to the dead or dying for hours, while corrections officials said staff entered as quickly as they could safely do so. The accounts of the officers' response remain in dispute.

Cause of death, as reported: Killed by another person in custody (disputed; neglect alleged). The coroner said most of the dead were stabbed or slashed and the rest appeared to have been beaten, and the Department of Corrections described inmate-on-inmate fighting, while an inmate told AP that aid came hours late and a lawsuit by a surviving inmate says some of the wounded waited hours for responders, which officials dispute.

Reported by: Lee County Coroner Larry Logan (medical examiner or coroner); South Carolina Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); an inmate who spoke to the Associated Press (witnesses); a surviving inmate's lawsuit (family or their lawyers); Gov. Henry McMaster.

Lawsuit: A surviving inmate filed a lawsuit over the 2018 riot at Lee Correctional Institution, in which this person was one of seven killed, and no settlement or award amount is reported.

Sources (23)