FRESNO, Calif. — A California prison was under lockdown Tuesday as administrators investigated a riot involving rival Hispanic gangs that sent 24 inmates to hospitals, one in serious condition.
Inmates at Avenal State Prison used canes, walkers and footrests from wheelchairs to beat one another Monday night. The most seriously injured inmates suffered puncture and slash wounds, none life-threatening.
"Exactly what they were fighting over, we're still trying to figure that out," said Lt. Doug Snell, prison spokesman. "It's still a big mess."
It took 16 ambulances responding from four counties to carry the injured to five hospitals.
Avenal, built in 1986 in the southern Central Valley, is a medium-security prison where inmates have earned the right to live in dormitories instead of cells. Only one of the six housing complexes was involved.
The fight began in the yard of Facility 5, where 1,026 of the prison's 6,395 inmates are housed, then immediately spread inside three of that complex's four dormitories. Two hours later, as prison officials were cleaning up, fighting broke out in the fourth dorm, Snell said.
At least 193 inmates were involved. Prison officials confiscated 30 weapons.
All programs have been suspended as prison officials work to transfer fighting inmates to different facilities. Either those involved will be charged with participation in a riot, or the cases will be referred to the Kings County district attorney's office for consideration, Snell said.
The names of the injured have not been released. Seven remained hospitalized and under guard.
Front Section, Pages 12 on 09/23/2009