Three correction officers in the Wallens Ridge state prison were stabbed by prisoners in “planned” attacks on Friday, according to the Virginia Penitentiary.
A total of five officers were injured in prison in West Virginia during the attack, according to the department. The officers were transported for medical treatment outside the facilities.
Three officers have been dismissed, said Doc Virginia. Two officers are in a stable condition.
The DOC accused that five of the six perpetrators were “members of the MS-13 gang who were confirmed from El Salvador, who were in this country illegally,” according to a press release given to ABC News.
Each suspect has been punished for violent crimes, including exacerbated murder, murder and rape of first and second levels, according to DOC.
The sign for the Wallens Ridge state prison is displayed on this screen from Google Maps.
Google Maps Street View
Other prisoners involved in the attack were members of the Sureño 13 gang who were confirmed and from the US, serving a sentence for the second level of murder.
“Five of the people responsible for this unreasonable attack should never be in this country,” Director of Dok Virginia Chad Dotson said in a statement.
“Every day, our officers put their lives on the telephone to ensure public safety for more than 8.8 million people in all Commonwealth,” Dotson said. “This attack is an example of the dangers they face when they appear to work every day. Our officers are heroes, and I praise the team at Wallens Ridge for their rapid response.”
Dotson also included a “unofficial” statement that said, “Our dedicated staff deserves a director who makes it clear that our officers’ safety is our highest priority, for other things we do,” added that “this will not stand.”
The attack is currently being investigated, and there is no further response that will be given until the investigation is completed, said DOC officials.