Ohio Inmates Riot, Kill 5 Prisoners, Hold 8 Guards Hostage, Officials Say

A fight among inmates escalated into a riot Sunday at a maximum security prison, with inmates killing at least five fellow prisoners and holding at least eight guards hostage, authorities said.

At least fifteen people were injured at the south-central Ohio prison, including 10 guards and five inmates, authorities said.

Sharron Kornegay, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, said the prisoners had apparently been beaten to death.

A ninth guard who was being held hostage was rescued when prison officials and the State Highway Patrol took back the recreation yard around 10 p.m., about seven hours after the outbreak.

“The inmates in the yard did not want to be involved so there was little to no resistance,” Kornegay said. No shots were fired, she added.

Authorities would not say how many prisoners were involved in the disturbance at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility.

Scioto County Sheriff’s spokesman described the disturbance as a “full-scale riot” at the prison, which houses some of the state’s most dangerous inmates.