By C1 Staff
LINCOLN — State lawmakers and Governor Pete Ricketts toured the damaged Tecumseh State Correctional Institute after a weeklong lockdown that was the result of a prison riot.
The Omaha reports that 13 state senators were told of suspicions that the riot was preplanned, that specific inmates had been targeted, and that damages may exceed $500,000.
Inmates started fires, and then called prison officials to report them in order to open cell doors and gain access to targeted inmates.
“They burned down a whole wall to get to certain inmates,” said Lincoln Sen. Adam Morfeld.
Governor Ricketts arrived at the prison a day later, touring with reporters to see the damage first hand. Reporter Alexandra Stone with KETV tweeted photos of the facility.
Inmate pounded on this door with a pole before riot @KETV pic.twitter.com/hinJVBvQ8b
— Alexandra Stone (@AlexGStone) May 19, 2015
Image from area where two inmates died @KETV pic.twitter.com/gz7ThfNYiv
— Alexandra Stone (@AlexGStone) May 19, 2015
Correctional officers are working 12-hour shifts and inmates remain on lockdown status.
The cause of the riot has yet to be determined, but many attribute it to lack of experienced staff and few programs to occupy the inmates’ time.