Prisoner shot after large fight breaks out at correctional institution

Prisoner shot after large fight breaks out at correctional institution

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Story Created: Apr 6, 2008 at 3:19 PM MST

Story Updated: Nov 7, 2008 at 10:36 AM MST

By Jerry Manter

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ONTARIO - Officials say corrections staff at the Snake River Correctional Institution near the Oregon and Idaho border fired at an inmate following a large disturbance Sunday.

Officials say the fight involved up to 120 inmates in the recreation yard at about 9:40 a.m.

"There are inmate fights that happen," said Amber Campbell, prison spokesperson. "Usually they're not in this big of a group."

Corrections staff fired a shot from an observation tower which struck an inmate. The inmate has been transported to an area hospital for medical attention. Three other inmates were also transported for medical attention relating to injuries received during the disturbance.

Campbell said all inmates are accounted for and that the public is safe.

The institution is on lock-down status. Visiting has been closed for the afternoon. The prison near the Idaho state line has almost 3,000 inmates.

The Oregon State Police is the lead agency investigating the incident with assistance from the Malheur County District Attorney's Office, Malheur County Sheriff's Office and the Ontario Police Department.

This is not he first time the region has seen a large prison disturbance like the one in Ontario.

In July of 1997, eight maximum security prisoners went on a rampage at the Idaho Correctional facility in Orofino. Prisoners broke televisions, a microwave and started a fire before a special operations team was sent in to break up the riot.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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