LEE COUNTY, S.C. -- Seven inmates were killed and 17 injured following an incident at Lee Correctional Sunday night, according to the S.C. Department of Corrections (SCDC).
At 11:46 p.m. Sunday, SCDC confirmed on twitter that they, along with the State law Enforcement Division (SLED) were responding to an ongoing situation at the facility. While no other details are immediately available, Lee County Sheriff Daniel Simon confirmed to News 19 that deputies were assisting SCDC in its response at the maximum security prison, but declined to say what they were responding to exactly.
At 6:35 a.m. Monday, SCDC said the incident started at 7:15 p.m. on Sunday and it involved multiple inmate-on-inmate altercations in three housing units. Multiple agencies responded to the incident.
The Lee County Fire Department tweeted out photos of multiple crews at Lee Correctional Institution.
SCDC said the prison was secured at 2:55 a.m. and no staff members or officers were injured.
The South Carolina law Enforcement Division (SLED) is investigating the incident, according to SCDC.
Corrections officials later identified the seven inmates killed as:
- Eddie Casey Jay Gaskins
- Joshua Svwin Jenkins
- Cornelius Quantral McClary
- Michael Milledge
- Damonte Marquez Rivera
- Raymond Angelo Scott
- Corey Scott
Governor McMaster is scheduled to discuss the incident, along with SCDC and SLED officials, at 1:30 p.m. Monday. Watch the briefing live in the media player above.
Lee Correctional Institution is located in the Town of Bishopville in Lee County, and is a Level 3 facility, meaning it houses some of the most violent offenders in the South Carolina prison system.
This is a developing story. Stick with News 19 on air, online and on social for updates as additional information becomes available.