WISE COUNTY, Va. — Three corrections officers were stabbed in what Virginia prison officials say was a premeditated attack by members of the MS-13 and Sureño 13 gangs at Wallens Ridge State Prison.
According to the Virginia Department of Corrections, the assault took place around 9:45 a.m. on May 2 and involved six inmates — five of whom are confirmed MS-13 members originally from El Salvador. The sixth is a U.S. citizen affiliated with the Sureño 13 gang. All six inmates are serving sentences for violent offenses, including aggravated murder, first- and second-degree murder, and rape.
Five officers were taken to outside medical facilities following the attack. Three of those officers, including two who sustained minor injuries while responding to the assault, have since been released. Two others remain hospitalized in stable condition.
“Five of the individuals responsible for this senseless attack should never have been in this country in the first place,” VADOC Director Chad Dotson said in a statement. “Every single day, our officers put their lives on the line to ensure public safety for the more than 8.8 million people across the Commonwealth. This attack is an example of the dangers they face when they show up to work every day. Our officers are heroes, and I commend the team at Wallens Ridge for their swift response.”
The incident remains under investigation. VADOC has not released additional details at this time.
How can a corrections officer overcome multiple attackers? The video below discusses 12 recommendations COs can take in the event of an attack.
