On Friday morning, an aggressive incident at Warrensridge State Jail in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, involved six inmates who allegedly attacked three correctional officers with knives. According to the Virginia Department of Corrections, five of these inmates are linked to the violent MS-13 gang from El Salvador, and, notably, they are in the United States illegally.
The incident took place around 9:45 AM, as reported by the Virginia Department of Corrections (Vadoc). The five inmates identified as MS-13 members have prior convictions for serious offenses such as aggravated murder, first-degree murder, and rape. The sixth inmate, who is serving time for second-degree murder, is confirmed to be a member of the Sureno 13 gang and is from the U.S.
Two officers sustained serious injuries and were taken to a nearby hospital, where they are currently in stable condition. Overall, five officers required medical attention following the incident.
Warrensridge Prison houses over 1,200 inmates and has roughly 800 employees. This facility was once classified as a Super Max prison but has since been downgraded to a Level 5 facility. Although at Level 5, it remains high security, it is not as restrictive as a Super Max facility.
Chad Dotson, director of Vadoc, voiced his frustration regarding the presence of gang members in the United States, stating, “The five individuals responsible for this senseless attack shouldn’t have been in our country at all.”
Dotson commended the officers for their dedication and swift actions during the attack, emphasizing, “Every day, our officers work hard to ensure the safety of over 8.8 million people in the broader community. This incident highlights the dangers they encounter daily.”
In late February, the U.S. Department of State announced the designation of several Mexican drug cartels, the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, and the violent Salvador MS-13 gang as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs).
According to Vadoc, the investigation into the attack is ongoing.
