16 inmates charged with murder in deadly Delaware prison uprising
SMYRNA, De. (WTXF) - Authorities in Delaware have announced indictments against 18 people in connection with the correctional facility hostage situation that left a correctional officer dead back in February.
16 inmates have been charged with first-degree murder and other related charges in the incident that began back on February 1, 2017.
During the incident, inmates took four correctional workers hostage at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna, setting off a nearly 20-hour standoff during which correctional officer Lt. Steven Floyd was killed.
The siege ended after two other guards were released, three others escaped and tactical teams broke through and rescued a female counselor.
All of those facing charges are currently incarcerated in Delaware Correction facilities and have been since the incident came to an end on February 2.
REPORT: Prison security concerns unheeded before deadly riot
Two other inmates are facing other charges including kidnapping and conspiracy in connection with the riot.
According to a report released by independent investigators back in September, Delaware prison administrators dismissed warnings of trouble brewing at the maximum-security prison in the days leading up to the deadly inmate uprising and hostage-taking.
The dismissal of the security warnings at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna was indicative of an overcrowded, understaffed facility plagued by mismanagement, a lack of communication, a culture of negativity, and adversarial relationships among prison staff, administrators, and inmates, according to the independent review ordered by Gov. John Carney.
The names of the defendants facing murder charges can be found below:
The names of the two other individuals facing related charges can be found below: