Gang members from El Salvador launched a violent assault on prison staff at a Virginia correctional facility, leaving multiple officers injured.
According to The Daily Caller, three corrections officers at Wallens Ridge State Prison were stabbed in what Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) officials described as a premeditated attack by six inmates, including five MS-13 gang members who were in the country illegally.
The incident occurred shortly before 10 a.m. on Friday when the group of inmates carried out their coordinated assault. Five of the attackers were identified as MS-13 gang members from El Salvador, while the sixth participant was a U.S. citizen affiliated with the Sureño 13 gang who is serving time for second-degree murder.
Violent Criminal Records of Prison Attackers
The MS-13 members involved in the attack had been previously convicted of serious violent crimes. Their criminal history included convictions for aggravated murder, first and second-degree murder, and rape, highlighting the dangerous nature of the perpetrators.
VADOC Director Chad Dotson expressed his concerns about the situation in a statement:
Five of the individuals responsible for this senseless attack should never have been in this country in the first place. 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.
The attack resulted in injuries to five corrections officers in total, with two remaining hospitalized in stable condition.
Three officers, including two who sustained minor injuries while responding to the incident, have been discharged from medical care.
National Context and Related Cases
The prison assault comes amid heightened attention on MS-13-related cases nationwide. The incident has drawn particular notice due to its timing, occurring during ongoing discussions about the recent deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an alleged MS-13 gang member who was removed from the United States despite receiving judicial protection against deportation.
VADOC officials have launched an investigation into the attack. Director Dotson praised the quick response of the prison staff: "Our officers are heroes, and I commend the team at Wallens Ridge for their swift response."
The prison administration has indicated that no additional information will be released until the completion of their investigation. The case has raised questions about prison security measures and the handling of gang-affiliated inmates within the correctional system.
Incident Summary and Next Steps
A coordinated attack by six inmates, predominantly MS-13 gang members, resulted in the stabbing of three corrections officers at Wallens Ridge State Prison in Virginia.
Five of the attackers were identified as illegal immigrants from El Salvador with violent criminal records.
While two officers remain hospitalized, authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the premeditated assault, with further details pending the completion of their inquiry.
