Three inmates have been killed and at least twelve others taken to hospital with injuries following a series of violent altercations described as a 'possible riot' at a Georgia state prison.
Violence Erupts at Medium-Security Facility
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon at the state prison in Davisboro, Georgia. Washington County Sheriff Joel Cochran confirmed that several 'major fights' broke out among inmates within the facility.
In total, thirteen inmates required emergency medical treatment outside the prison. One of the injured died in hospital, while two others were pronounced dead at the scene. The facility is a medium-security prison designed to hold up to 1,548 individuals.
Gang Activity and Contraband Smuggling Cited
Sheriff Cochran highlighted that such large-scale violence is not an everyday occurrence, stating it had been 'quite some time since we’ve had to come to an incident this large'. However, he has previously warned about deep-rooted problems within the state's correctional system.
In October, Cochran publicly stated that criminal gangs were operating drug enterprises from inside Washington and other state prisons. He specifically mentioned the use of drones to smuggle contraband, including drugs and mobile phones, into the facilities.
While the disturbance was primarily between inmates, authorities believe at least one prison guard may have been injured during the incident. The Georgia Department of Corrections has not yet issued an official comment.
Aftermath and Identification of the Deceased
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene, including Georgia State Troopers, Davisboro Police, and the Johnson County Sheriff's Office. Coroner's staff were also present.
The Human and Civil Rights Coalition of Georgia identified one of the deceased inmates on social media as Jimmy Stillwell Trammell. Tragically, Trammell was scheduled for release within the coming week after completing a ten-year sentence.
The coalition also shared footage appearing to show multiple inmates fleeing a building, describing the scene as 'complete chaos and violence'.
Context of US Prison Violence
While fatal prison riots are relatively rare in the United States, serious violent incidents do occur. In June of this year, one inmate was killed in a fight at the US Penitentiary in Beaumont, Texas—the same facility where two inmates died in gang-related violence in 2022.
The deadliest recent incident was in 2018 at the Lee Correctional Institution in South Carolina, where seven inmates died and 17 were injured in a mass fight involving knives.
The nation's bloodiest prison riot remains the 1975 uprising at the Attica Correctional Facility in New York, which lasted five days and resulted in 43 deaths among inmates, officers, and civilians.
